by Dan Ross, Sequim Gazette Staff Writer
from http://www.sequimgazette.com/News/SequimNews/Governmentwatcher010912.html

Sequim, WA - Sept. 5, 2001-  Judy Larson is more than just a typical inquisitive neighbor. When she wants to know what is going on in Sequim, she dives head first into gathering as much information as possible, sometimes to the dismay of city officials.
       A former scientist with the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, Larson carries her quest for information to watching how the city conducts expansion and planning efforts. She totes around a portfolio of legal papers, copies of the city's municipal code and contact numbers for city council members.
       Her scientific background, verifying and double-checking facts, shows as she searches for documentation that the city follows the rules when building or annexation occurs.
       Larson has offered her inquisitive mind to the city many times by applying for a position on the city planning commission. Each time her application has been rejected.
       She can accept not being a part of the planning commission as long as the current members, Larson said, are as thorough with details as she is.
       "We need to get people who are willing to step up and do diligent work, said Larson. "I hope there is always that willingness."
       Planning commission members are not paid for their efforts, and Larson understands the extra effort these people give to the city and its residents.
       "People serving on the council and planning commission are giving up part of their private lives," said Larson.
       She said she just wants to make sure the needs of the residents are taken into consideration when the city reviews plans for a new building, a new shopping center or a new housing development.
       "I hope to have as much critical examination of information as possible," said Larson.
       Her most recent application for a planning commission seat went unreviewed because of newly-adopted rules. The seven-member commission now must have five people living within the city boundaries and two must be from the county.
       Larson, a Palo Verde Loop resident living outside the city limits but inside the Sequim urban growth area, did not qualify because two commission members already live outside the city limits.
       She is upset, however, because the new residency requirements simply state two residents must live outside the city. She wants that tightened up to Sequim's urban growth area boundaries.
       "Right now there is nobody from the UGA on the planning commission," said Larson.
       
       Following city development
       Larson has lived in Sequim with her husband, Dean Young, since 1993. She said that shortly after moving in she began asking questions and following how the city handled its building and planning issues.
       Larson said she first became very interested in planning activities when there was a proposed rezoning of Leo Shipley's Priest Road property in the late 1990s. Although the initial rezone was rejected, Shipley recently received approval for a property rezone of his land.
       Last month Larson found the city had erred in its permit process allowing construction to begin on the Safeway gas station on West Washington Street.
       She saw the former Kentucky Fried Chicken building being torn down and went to the city to learn what was being done with the restaurant pad. Larson found plans were for Safeway to install five gasoline pumps at the site, and said she was told by city staff no state Environmental Protection Act review was necessary.
       She knew the lack of environmental review was in error from her studies of local and state development laws, and she questioned the planning commission about the permits at their next meeting.
       "My understanding is that the planning commission had no prior knowledge or involvement with the project application," said Larson.
       Rich Hendricksen, city planning director, issued an environmental checklist the morning after Larson brought her questions to the planning commission, allowing construction to begin.
       Larson, drawing on her research of local and state planning and environmental laws, knew Hendricksen's document could not be approved until the public was allowed 14 days to comment on any concerns regarding a project.
       Larson's made telephone calls to the state Department of Ecology that led to construction being halted for the two-week public comment period.
       During the time construction was halted, Larson turned in three pages of comments about the project and the permit process for approving Safeway's gas station.
       She outlined inconsistencies she said she found in city codes and also with placing a gas station next door to the Idle Wheels Mobile Home/RV Park.
       "While we appreciate your input," responded Hendricksen, "Do you have anything specific you would like to see done other than that which is being required of the project through established development codes and regulations?"
       Larson's letter asked for more review of potential problems from gasoline runoffs, increased traffic at the site and the impacts on residents of the mobile home park.
       The error by Hendricksen in allowing construction to begin without going through the proper permit procedure led Larson to begin asking for the planning director to step down from his job.
       "Accurate, fair and objective work by the city planning director has not happened," said Larson. "It is unfair that the people who are going to suffer are the people who live here."
       Hendricksen turned in his resignation some four months ago, but remains on the city staff with no replacement, nor plans to search for a replacement, in sight. City manager Bill Elliott told The Gazette recently that a severance package is being developed for Hendricksen.
       
       Becoming more involved
       Palo Verde Loop is eventually going to be annexed into the city, and this would allow Larson not only more opportunities to gain a planning commission seat, but she would become eligible to run for city council.
       Larson said she is not going to seriously consider a run for elected office until her home area is annexed into the city. She does plan to remain very involved, however, in watching how the city does its job and hopes the planning commission keeps listening to a wide variety of opinions.
       "The best decisions are made with all points of view heard and coming to a rational decision," said Larsen.
       When Larson believes city staff has overlooked something in the permitting process, she parks herself at the city counter, asks for the relevant files, and pays for copies of all the relevant documents.
       Elliott told The Gazette that Larson's requests for copies of building permits and other files take up more time than one person should be allowed.
       He said the city spends a lot of money assisting Larson, and her requests tie up staff time that could be spent on other projects.
       "We will not allow one person to take over our staff," said Elliott.
       Larson is going to continue, however, to research city files, looking for answers to all her questions.
       "We need to be very attentive that the quality of life that has drawn us here does not get destroyed."

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. [Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml]