A recent response to a 5/6/18 public records request:

Dear (Name withheld)

“Attached you will find the only record responsive to these 6 requests. This record is responsive to PRR-518, asking for complaints filed in the last 6 months regarding…” Property address withheld.

One record of a complaint was provided for the past 6 months. Our HOA made a complaint in March of 2018. For some reason, the HOA complaint was not made available as a response to this request.

“Regarding requests for records (PRR-517 and PRR-519) I have spoken with both Code Enforcement Planners and there are no responsive records to these requests. In addition the existing code enforcement cases, related to these requests for records have been closed. At least one of the cases shows the follow comment: The Initial Enforcement letter and Cease and Desist have been brought into compliance through use of screening.”

“All 6 of these requests are now closed.”

A few questions:

“At least one of the cases shows the follow comment: The Initial Enforcement letter and Cease and Desist have been brought into compliance through use of screening.”

Why am I told what it says- instead of being provided with a copy of the files for my review?

“In addition the existing code enforcement cases, related to these requests for records have been closed.”

Closed?

I want to read about how enforcement at this property was handled Re: the previous owner.

Telling me cases have been closed means I can not review records/property history/past enforcement actions?

“I have spoken with both Code Enforcement Planners and there are no responsive records to these requests.”

Why the need to speak with planners? Aren’t the records placed in the files/archives available for public review? Why check with anyone on staff? What if some member of the staff has now moved on & can not speak to the matter? I just want to see the records and the methods used to track work history.

I contacted the county and asked a few of the questions above. The result is that an appointment has been scheduled to go to the county offices and review records. The invitation to go and look at records only came after those records were not initially provided.

Possibly of interest:

View Penn Cove water quality using the Dept. of Health map at the bottom of this page.

Background:

Island County Code – Junk Cars

What we were told by a County Commissioner on Dec 21st, 2017:

“Yes, there was a cease and desist posted a few years ago. Since then, the ownership of the land changed hands.”

The current property owner “…owns a car dealership…”

“The code states that if the cars are tied to a sales business and the vehicles are fully screened from the street, it is legal.”

There is no legally established permitted use at this property. A fence may be used to cover up vehicles secondary to a legally established permitted use.

The car dealership is more than 7 miles away and not in rural residential zoning. The previous property owner also ran the same car dealership:

“He was the owner and operator of O&J Sales on Goldie Road when it was raided by deputies in 2009.”

Detailed Timeline and Results of Public Records Requests on this Rolling Hills property here:

Island County Records Creation Protocols

Junk cars photo timeline here:

Penn Cove Watershed

Find us on Facebook: Junk Cars – Penn Cove Watershed

Twitter: Junk Cars – Island County

and Rolling Hills Junk Cars

Photo – Cold Case Files of the Penn Cove Watershed and Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve

Why is the Rolling Hills community included in Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve?

What services do Rolling Hills residents receive in exchange for permit fees Re: Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve?

The Rolling Hills neighborhood is the part of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve where property owners pay fees for permits Re: Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve – yet no standards appear to be in place.

This is the portion of the reserve that will not show up on promotional websites, brochures, kiosks, school field trips, etc.

Does ELNHR attempt to maintain any standards in the Rolling Hills community?

Results returned May 9th, 2018 on this public records request:

Going back one year- I request all records of any count of the total number of junk cars and trucks at the property in question.

Answer: There are no records that indicate the number of junk cars and trucks at this property.

This is not the first time we have asked how many junk cars are located at this property:

Public Records Request – How Many Junk Cars?

View Penn Cove water quality using the Dept. of Health map at the bottom of this page.

Detailed Timeline and Results of Public Records Requests on this Rolling Hills property here:

Island County Records Creation Protocols

Junk cars photo timeline here:

Penn Cove Watershed

Find us on Facebook: Junk Cars – Penn Cove Watershed

Twitter: Junk Cars – Island County

and Rolling Hills Junk Cars

Photo- Cold Case Files of the Penn Cove Watershed and Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve

Results returned May 9th, 2018 on this public records request:

Re: (property address)
I request copies of any records of changes to Island County Code 17.03.180 since the previous property owner was issued Island County Cease and Desist Order: Case No. 025/14 dated 2/19/15 for storage of junk cars.

Answer: The code has not changed.

Background:

We live next to a large collection of junk cars in the Rolling Hills community. Multiple junk cars were towed to this property during the Spring/Summer of 2017. This property is located within the boundaries of the Penn Cove Watershed and Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve.

The previous property owner was issued Island County Cease and Desist Order: Case No. 025/14 dated 2/19/15 for storage of junk cars. This Cease and Desist Order indicates several reasons why junk car storage can not be permitted in this residential neighborhood.

From Cease and Desist Order Case No. COV 025/14:

Page 2 of 4 C. No Junk/Salvage yard can be permitted in a Rural Residential Zone.

Page 2 of 4 D. No more than one junk vehicle can be stored on a lot less than one acre in size.

Page 3 of 4 I. Minimum parcel size for home industry is 2.5 acres. In order to operate home industry on parcel- owner must be full-time resident.

There is no permitted residence on this parcel.

The lot in question is less than one acre in size.

There is no legally established permitted use at this property. A fence may be used to cover up vehicles secondary to a legally established permitted use.

If the code has not changed, why has the number of junk cars and trucks grown since a new owner took over the property?

Details here: Island County Code – Junk Cars

View Penn Cove water quality using the Dept. of Health map at the bottom of this page.

What we were told by a County Commissioner on Dec 21st, 2017:

“Yes, there was a cease and desist posted a few years ago. Since then, the ownership of the land changed hands.”

The current property owner “…owns a car dealership…”

“The code states that if the cars are tied to a sales business and the vehicles are fully screened from the street, it is legal.”

There is no legally established permitted use at this property. A fence may be used to cover up vehicles secondary to a legally established permitted use.

The car dealership is more than 7 miles away and not in rural residential zoning. The previous property owner also ran the same car dealership:

“He was the owner and operator of O&J Sales on Goldie Road when it was raided by deputies in 2009.”

Detailed Timeline and Results of Public Records Requests on this Rolling Hills property here:

Island County Records Creation Protocols

Junk cars photo timeline here:

Penn Cove Watershed

Find us on Facebook: Junk Cars – Penn Cove Watershed

Twitter: Junk Cars – Island County

and Rolling Hills Junk Cars

Photo- Riepma Pier

Why is the Rolling Hills community included in Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve?

What services do Rolling Hills residents receive in exchange for permit fees Re: Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve?

The Rolling Hills neighborhood is the part of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve where property owners pay fees for permits Re: Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve – yet no standards appear to be in place.

This is the portion of the reserve that will not show up on promotional websites, brochures, kiosks, school field trips, etc.

Does ELNHR attempt to maintain any standards in the Rolling Hills community?

In the news: Magazine ranks Island County among nation’s healthiest

Still some work to do.

Love to see newspeople get out and interview property owners, neighbors, business people, real estate agents, volunteer groups, etc. Something to add to the story beyond input coming only from professionals employed by the county would be welcome.

We live next to a large collection of junk cars in the Rolling Hills community. Multiple junk cars were towed to this property during the Spring/Summer of 2017. This property is located within the boundaries of the Penn Cove Watershed and Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve.

Applicable Island County Code 17.03.180 – Land use standards. “Junk vehicles shall have all batteries and fluids properly removed and disposed of to protect the groundwater supply pursuant to applicable Island County Health Department regulations.”

We made public records requests and were able to determine that no procedures exist for inspecting junk cars to verify that all batteries and fluids have been properly removed and disposed of to protect the groundwater supply pursuant to applicable Island County Health Department regulations.

We made public records requests and were able to determine that the Island County Health Department has never found any junk vehicle, anywhere in the county, anytime in the past 5 years that was in violation of code.

Public Records Requests results here: Public Records Request – 5 Year History – No Junk Vehicle Found in Violation of Code – Anywhere in Island County

View Penn Cove water quality using the Dept. of Health map at the bottom of this page.

The previous property owner was issued Island County Cease and Desist Order: Case No. 025/14 dated 2/19/15 for storage of junk cars. The number of junk cars and trucks has grown since a new owner took over the property. Details here: Island County Code – Junk Cars

Detailed Timeline and Results of Public Records Requests on this Rolling Hills property here:

Island County Records Creation Protocols

Junk cars photo timeline here:

Penn Cove Watershed

Find us on Facebook: Junk Cars – Penn Cove Watershed

Twitter: Junk Cars – Island County

and Rolling Hills Junk Cars

Photo- Cold Case Files of the Penn Cove Watershed and Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve

Why is the Rolling Hills community included in Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve?

What services do Rolling Hills residents receive in exchange for permit fees Re: Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve?

The Rolling Hills neighborhood is the part of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve where property owners pay fees for permits Re: Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve – yet no standards appear to be in place.

This is the portion of the reserve that will not show up on promotional websites, brochures, kiosks, school field trips, etc.

Does ELNHR attempt to maintain any standards in the Rolling Hills community?

We live next to a large collection of junk cars in the Rolling Hills community. Multiple junk cars were towed to this property during the Spring/Summer of 2017. This property is located within the boundaries of the Penn Cove Watershed and Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve.

The previous property owner was issued Island County Cease and Desist Order: Case No. 025/14 dated 2/19/15 for storage of junk cars. This Cease and Desist Order indicates several reasons why junk car storage can not be permitted in this residential neighborhood.

From Cease and Desist Order Case No. COV 025/14:

Page 2 of 4 C. No Junk/Salvage yard can be permitted in a Rural Residential Zone.

Page 2 of 4 D. No more than one junk vehicle can be stored on a lot less than one acre in size.

Page 3 of 4 I. Minimum parcel size for home industry is 2.5 acres. In order to operate home industry on parcel- owner must be full-time resident.

There is no permitted residence on this parcel.

The lot in question is less than one acre in size.

There is no legally established permitted use at this property. A fence may be used to cover up vehicles secondary to a legally established permitted use.

17.03.180 – Land use standards:

M.
Outdoor storage of junk and junk vehicles. The purpose of this subsection is to expand the county’s authority to regulate outdoor storage of junk and junk vehicles. Controlling outdoor storage of junk and eliminating junk vehicles from view will help preserve the safety and rural character and maintain the esthetic value of our neighborhoods in Island County. This subsection shall be liberally construed to implement its purpose.
1.
Outdoor storage of junk vehicles may be permitted in association with, and secondary to, a legally established permitted use. In order for outdoor storage of junk vehicles to be considered secondary the following standards shall be adhered to:
a.
Not more than one (1) junk vehicle may be placed or situated on a parcel that is one (1) acre or less in size.
b.
Not more than two (2) junk vehicles may be placed or situated on parcels that are one (1) to five (5) acres in size.
c.
Not more than five (5) junk vehicles may be placed or situated on a parcel that is greater than five (5) acres in size.
d.
Junk vehicles shall have all batteries and fluids properly removed and disposed of to protect the groundwater supply pursuant to applicable Island County Health Department regulations.
2.
Outdoor storage of junk is subject to the following standards:
a.
Outdoor storage of junk is permitted at a scale and intensity that is commonly associated with, and secondary to, a legally established permitted use; or
b.
At a scale and intensity that exceeds what is commonly associated with and secondary to a permitted use, which may be permitted if all items are completely screened from view through the use of berms, landscaping, fencing and/or existing native vegetation.
3.
The following are exceptions to the above standards:
a.
Storage of junk and/or junk vehicles which is completely enclosed within a legally constructed building.
b.
Outdoor storage of junk vehicles may exceed the thresholds established in subsection M.1. above provided that:
(i)
It is secondary to a legally established permitted use, including agricultural equipment; and
(ii)
All vehicles are completely screened from view through the use of berms, landscaping, fencing and/or existing native vegetation;
c.
Outdoor storage of junk and/or junk vehicles or parts thereof which are stored or parked in a lawful manner on private property in connection with a business of a licensed dismantler or licensed vehicle dealer that is a legally established permitted or conditional use and is fully screened.

What we were told by a County Commissioner on Dec 21st, 2017:

“Yes, there was a cease and desist posted a few years ago. Since then, the ownership of the land changed hands.”

The current property owner “…owns a car dealership…”

“The code states that if the cars are tied to a sales business and the vehicles are fully screened from the street, it is legal.”

There is no legally established permitted use at this property. A fence may be used to cover up vehicles secondary to a legally established permitted use.

The car dealership is more than 7 miles away and not in rural residential zoning. The previous property owner also ran the same car dealership:

“He was the owner and operator of O&J Sales on Goldie Road when it was raided by deputies in 2009.”

More here:

View Penn Cove water quality using the Dept. of Health map at the bottom of this page.

Whidbey Junk Cars and Non-DOD Water Contamination Concerns

Detailed Timeline and Results of Public Records Requests on this Rolling Hills property here:

Island County Records Creation Protocols

Junk cars photo timeline here:

Penn Cove Watershed

Find us on Facebook: Junk Cars – Penn Cove Watershed

Twitter: Junk Cars – Island County

and Rolling Hills Junk Cars

Photo-

Why is the Rolling Hills community included in Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve?

What services do Rolling Hills residents receive in exchange for permit fees Re: Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve?

The Rolling Hills neighborhood is the part of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve where property owners pay fees for permits Re: Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve – yet no standards appear to be in place.

This is the portion of the reserve that will not show up on promotional websites, brochures, kiosks, school field trips, etc.

Does ELNHR attempt to maintain any standards in the Rolling Hills community?

South Shore:

Check out Penn Cove water quality using the Dept. of Health map at the bottom of this page.

North Shore:

WDFW- “Shellfish on this beach should only be harvested west of the Rolling Hills Glencairn Community dock. The portion of this beach that lies to the east of the dock is inside a prohibited zone for nearby municipal sewage treatment plant outfalls.”

Sounds like the municipal sewage treatment plant is sending unsafe product into Penn Cove?

Check out North Shore Penn Cove water quality using the Dept. of Health map at the bottom of this page.

More here: Whidbey Junk Cars and Non-DOD Water Contamination Concerns

Detailed Timeline and Results of Public Records Requests on this Rolling Hills property here:

Island County Records Creation Protocols

Junk cars photo timeline here:

Penn Cove Watershed

Find us on Facebook: Junk Cars – Penn Cove Watershed

Twitter: Junk Cars – Island County

and Rolling Hills Junk Cars