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Point Roberts committee says Seabright stairs pose landslide hazard; recommends code review
Summary
PRCAC examined the Seabright Beach access permit and concluded the approval referenced a 'path,' not stairs; members said stairs on the cliff are a landslide hazard and discussed writing to the property's management company and involving county code enforcement.
PRCAC reviewed the Seabright Beach conditional use permit and hearing examiner record and concluded the documents reference a 'path' rather than stairs. Committee members told the record does not support building stairs into the cliff and called the existing structure a safety hazard that should be addressed by the property management company or through county code enforcement.
"It's it's a landslide hazard," Chair Allison stated when summarizing the engineering and permit review. Members noted that an earlier hearing examiner decision required removal of stairs and that subsequent permits and replacements were not clearly documented in enforceable language. Because ownership and responsibility for the stairway have changed over time — and because much of the adjacent property is controlled by an HOA and a management company — members discussed sending a citizen violation report or a letter to the management firm asking that unsafe steps be removed or secured.
Why it matters: Committee members said the cliff area is a public‑safety concern because people still access the beach via the stairs and the structure has deteriorated. PRCAC recommended engaging county PDS and code enforcement rather than trying to pursue weak contract language in court.
What comes next: PRCAC agreed staff would review ownership records and consider drafting a letter to the management company and code enforcement to seek removal or closure of the unsafe stairs.
