Editor,

Mayor Nancy Conard has made a deal to sell a restricted easement on 54 aces on Keystone Hill — already protected by the town of Coupeville. This “forever” easement sold to the Navy will allow them to fly the Growlers jets over it, dooming the use of Rhododendrum Park, the dog park, and homes that will be unsellable on Keystone Hill and in the surrounding area. This decision was made by people who do not represent people outside the boundary of the town, as we cannot vote in Coupeville elections. We have a right to be angry about this.

The Navy wants electromagnetic emitter trucks in the Olympic National Forest instead of Idaho and will spend $11.5 million to move to Washington; they want more nuclear subs in the Hood Canal; they have expanded their Northwest Training and Testing Center and the National Resource Defense Council has sued them to protect the number of fish and mammals that they will harm. This includes our beloved orcas. They are expanding the number of jets in a squadron and are expanding the number of Growlers at NASWI that will use OLF Coupeville.

COER sued the Navy to do the first EIS ever on the transition of aircraft at OLF Coupeville. And, recently, Congress just provided money for 47 more Growlers, which have a one-site location — Oak Harbor.

The Navy’s plans for Puget Sound are to expand their use of our lands, sea and airspace so that 60 percent of their assets will be on the west coast by 2020. Washington already ranks sixth among the 50 states for having military personnel and assets in Washington — and most of that is west of the Mountains. Unlik Port Townsend and towns along the coast and the Hood Canal and on the San Juans — who are fighting the Navy’s attempt to encroach on their lives and businesses and peaceful environment – Mayor Nancy and the Town Council have rolled out the red carpet and taken the Navy’s money.

How does this impact all of us? At the “State of Coupeville” report, Mayor Nancy reported that B&B taxes and retail receipts were key to a sustainable Coupeville. Well, those numbers are down and they will continue to go down as people decide not to come to Coupeville because of the jets. Business owners will go elsewhere because of the jets. People with children, young farmers, teachers and doctors will go elsewhere … and the exodus has already begun.

Mayor Nancy and the Town Council have doomed the future sustainability of Coupeville for a terrible short-term gain. The Navy has a written strategy about how to work with land trusts and towns to get what they want.

The intention of the original grant was to preserve the watershed of Crockett Lake and as a potential water supply for Coupeville.

The town could have put restrictions on this land — without selling out to the Navy. A harsh grinch gift to our community’s future.

Maryon Attwood

Coupeville