Community: Who needs verdant fields?

Published 5:00 pm Wednesday, July 12, 2006

I think it’s a really good idea to support the idea of building a super mall on the south edge of Oak Harbor. Instead of verdant farm fields, we can have handy parking lots for wayward RV’s, we can contribute to global cooling by laying down maximum asphalt, we can boost the tax base of the city and county so we can build another high school and sports complex. Real estate will soar, further boosting tax receipts, however, many agents will be forced to move to Cancun due to inability to spend all their money locally. I look forward to the neon at night that will guide visitors to a fresh Slurpy and 100 pound bag of potato chips. Many long term local businesses can now close their doors and fill some of the help wanted requests at minimum wage. Environmental concerns are minimal due to the fact that parking lot runoff has been found beneficial to aquifers and small fuzzy animals.

I think the same planner was in charge of the wonderful concept of tidal turbines in Deception Pass. I looked forward to seeing winter log jams go crashing through but missing the tasteful scene of industry.

I like the idea of joining the ranks of cities whose zoning laws have enabled the citizens to drive without lights at night due to the afterglow of commerce. I think LaConner and Anacortes and Coupeville have it all wrong by trying to keep their zip codes small, quaint, serene, and profitable. Their tax bases must be embarrassing and they don’t even have the foresight to sell cars on every corner.

Mac, save us here. Rezoning for this purpose is not in the interest of the rock solid people who love this area. A two lane bridge and un-instant ferry will save us along with the 5 acre rule provided we don’t let our greed develop and metastasize into an unrecoverable state of North Seattle, Lynnwood, Federal Way and Everett.

Save the whales and then save us, please.

Bruce Wood

Captain, USN, Retired