Sequim council OKs another farm conversion

2006-10-25
by DIANE URBANI DE LA PAZ
Peninsula Daily News

SEQUIM -- A standing-room-only crowd saw the Sequim City Council approve a 229-unit subdivision on a former dairy farm Monday night -- despite much snickering, whispering and outright complaining.

The council voted 4-1 in favor of Sorrento, a development that will cover 38 acres of the old Booth farm at Sequim-Dungeness Way and Port Williams Road.

Councilman Don Hall was the dissenter, and Patricia Kasovia-Schmitt abstained since she hadn't reviewed all records from previous meetings on the project.

Sorrento riled its neighbors weeks ago.

They protested at Planning Commission and City Council meetings in September and wrote letters calling Sorrento ``an eyesore,'' ``totally inappropriate'' and possibly unsafe due to high nitrate levels in the groundwater.

During Monday's council meeting, Marilyn Thompson said she'd submitted written questions to the Planning Commission and City Council -- and was still awaiting a response.

``Did any of you read the letters?'' she asked.

``Why are public comments solicited and then ignored?''

All written comments are included in packets given to commissioners and councilors, Planning Director Dennis Lefevre said, as several council members held up their sheaves of paper.

``I'm sure they all do'' read them, Lefevre added.