Report on the Last Council Meeting Before a Final Vote



6 of us testified. Another 4 - 6 attended in support. My testimony is copied below. There was a range of comments including:

........ If you must sacrifice 5 blocks of prime waterfront property for shoppers downtown at least charge property taxes.... be business like..... get a return for your investment and value the condos appropriately. Prime locations call for over priced not underpriced housing.

........80 - 85% of the people remain opposed to the rezone, too many to discount as small town, small time rubes. Please delay your decision for 6-9 months to allow time for the other side of the story.

........The decision was made for downtown business people not for the community at large

........ Concern for Waterstreet, block # 9 on the bluff and how it will diminish the Capitol Dome from downtown and tower over Heritage Park

........There is another downtown study going on by city planner Steve Frittle for housing along Columbia Street.... 1 & 2 blocks back from the waterfront. Why haven't the people heard anything about that?

........80 - 85 % of the people opposed...... unfortunately for the majority, the 15-20% in favor of tall buildings along the waterfront included 7 city council members. (We only needed 4.)

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Bonnie's Testimony

Re: Waterfront Rezone

Thank you for this final opportunity for public comment on the Waterfront rezone.

First, we thank you, most sincerely, for taking the isthmus off the table. Everyone can agree that location is magnificent and worthy of your decision.

But I must also ask you to postpone the entire rezone until after a Community Visioning Process on the Future of the Waterfront.

Put it on the back burner, for less than a year. Include it in next year Review of the Comprehensive Plan. This rezone is a big, big change. A permanent change.

Take time to study, Planner Steve Frittle's work on housing in other areas in downtown, specifically housing one block back from the water on Columbia St. Give his hard work a closer look before you rezone Water Street.

You know we all support downtown housing. Housing has never been the issue. The use of the Waterfront has been the issue.

The "Over-riding Public Interest", called for in the Shoreline Management Act, has not been demonstrated. In fact, quite the opposite.


It is generally accepted that between 80 and 85% of the people are opposed to tall buildings on the waterfront and called for the opportunity to be involved in the fate of OUR waterfront

That has held true through the attendance at the Public Hear ing, the 257 opposition statements in May alone, the phone calls and written testimony, The Olympian'spoll. Close to 800 signatures were gathered in opposition

85% is too big a majority to discount as NIMBYs or as starry-eyed idealists or as anti-development folks or as small time small town rubes. This 85% represents an enormous coalition of all ages and walks of life, political persuasion and points of view.

60% can pass a bond issue.. Anything or anyone with 65-70% gets referred to as a landslide.

The Attendance at the Public Hearing, number of letters and phone calls is unheard of. I spent about 2 hours this afternoon reading some of those communications and one person wrote "As close to democracy as one ever sees."


I am reminded of the story of the sweet old woman who went to the 4th of July Parade to see her grandson in the band. She proudly pointed and said "Look everyone is out of step --- but my grandson Jim."

80 - 85% of the people are not OUT of Step. Please don't ignore us. All we are asking for is TIME.

To deny this number of people an opportunity for involvement, only adds to the cynic's mantra, "WHY BOTHER? Why bother? Why bother?"

Please, Delay your decision on the Waterfront Rezone.

Thank you,
Bonnie Jacobs