If you were out enjoying the scenery at Swan Lake near Oak Harbor and someone told you that the city wanted to expand into the area, allowing hundreds houses to be built and using the lake as a detention pond for stormwater runoff,  you might exclaim, “There ought to be law against that!”

Fortunately, there is. It’s called the Growth Management Act. Recently, the Growth Management Hearings Board upheld the law, and ruled against Oak Harbor on all 16 of its arguments. There is no need for city expansion, and if for some reason the city experienced phenomenal growth and ran out of room, the boundaries could always be enlarged in the future.

Now, the city is intent on wasting the taxpayer money of Oak Harbor citizens, as well as that of all who live in Island County, by appealing the decision. If the city “wins,” the resulting sprawl, with need for new infrastructure, would continue to cost taxpayers. It would be nice if the money could be spent on restoration and preservation of the area, or perhaps on affordable housing within Oak Harbor limits.

Please urge Oak Harbor to drop its costly appeal.

Ann Dannhauer
Coupeville