I own a historic house in Coupeville (the Dr. White House) and haven’t had any problems with the Coupeville Historic Review Committee. I recently attended a meeting about combining the two HRCs, Island County and Coupeville, and about telling people what color they can paint their houses. We were assured that there was a vary large palette of colors. Then I read in the paper about all the problems the church is having.

The HRC doesn’t want it to look like a church and the HRC doesn’t want a steeple, or they wanted it to look like a chimney. Give me a break.

Then they want them to paint it dark earth tones — why dark earth tones, who gets to decide what a “good color” is? That’s a pretty subjective call. So the HRC is essentially forcing the church to paint it the color they want or no approval?

They have too much power. I love the historic look of Coupeville and the old houses and I have owned one since 1969. But this goes too too far. I don’t want anyone telling me what color to paint my house. Especially as a way to force me into other decisions about my property. It is none of their business.

If this kind of over the top control had been in place during the last 40 years our town wouldn’t have any of the “charming character” you seek preserve.

Ernie Rosenkranz

Formerly of Coupeville