Image above: Google satellite

When we signed Real Estate papers in 2013- there was just one classic Ford truck between us and the garage.

This inspection report authorized the results seen in the photos below: 

We sent a public records request for more information on how decisions were made in this case. Details here:

Island County Records Creation Protocols

2017:

View from inside the living area of our home. Fence in lower part of image is on our property and was installed by us.

Merry Christmas:

Related:

Public Records Request – Fence on North Side?

Photo timeline here:

Penn Cove Watershed

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.”

“…if the cars are tied to a sales business…”

Cars that are sold go home with new owners. They aren’t dumped off in some neighborhood 7 miles down the road near Penn Cove.

County Code 17.03.180 – Land use standards

Here is what it says: Island County Code – Junk Cars

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?

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

Island County Records Creation Protocols

May 31, 2018

Stanwood Camano News: Crews clean junk-filled Camano property

“Thirteen tons of junk.”

“The remnants of 14 vehicles still need to be removed, he said.”

“We still don’t know what all they had in there and we don’t know what was below the soil,” Hannold said. “It was the worst (nuisance property) on Camano.”

“The county Health Department also will test the soil for contaminants.”

Over in the Penn Cove Watershed:

We live next to a large collection of junk cars located within the boundaries of the Penn Cove Watershed and Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve.

How many junk cars are being stored at this property?

We have asked the county and they have no answer.

Details here: Public Records Request – How Many Junk Cars?

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 were home when the Island County Health Dept. was out on 11/21/17 to do a report.

We made a public records request for the report. The inspection report is posted on a personal blog here: Packed In 4 Deep?

Cars next door to us are packed in tight– several cars deep. We can’t see how it would have been possible to inspect a vehicle that is surrounded by several other vehicles- so tightly that it would not be possible to open doors, look under the hood, etc.

How long did this inspection take?

When did the inspection start and end?

How many junk cars and trucks were on site on this date?

How many junk cars and trucks were inspected on this date?

The inspection report does not provide this information.

By making public records requests, we 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.

By making public records requests, we 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.

Details here:

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

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.

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.”

“…if the cars are tied to a sales business…”

Cars that are sold go home with new owners. They aren’t dumped off in some neighborhood 7 miles down the road near Penn Cove.

County Code 17.03.180 – Land use standards

Here is what it says: 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

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?

Photo-

Penn Cove – Sailing event in the distance

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

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?