Cross-Connector Road Committee Meeting

August 26, 2008

 

 

The Cross-Connector Road Committee met Tuesday, August 26th, at 1:00 p.m. at the Greater Hansville Community Center. Guests were Jon Brand, Assistant Public Works Director and County Engineer, and Jeff Shea, Engineer, from the Kitsap County Department of Public Works. Those attending were: Bob Amos, Barb Fox, John Hunter, Karla Martin, Daria Nelson, Gary Paulson, Gerry Porter, Dody Solaas, Hugh Tucker, and Carol Wood.

 

Maps of the proposed road location and elevations from 1996 were available for study. Gerry reported on telephone calls he had received from north end residents resulting from the Log article; all were expressing opposition to the proposed road.

 

Gary Paulson and Gerry Porter reported on a July 29th conversation with Jon Rose and Elizabeth Wilson of the Olympic Property Group. Basically, OPG is neither supporting, nor against, the proposed Cross Connector Road. Development of OPG's north end property is not their highest priority; the Cross Connector Road, they believe, is of little potential benefit to them.

 

Jon Brand provided very helpful updates on the County's north end road construction projects, both current and those programmed for the next few years. Widening of Hansville Road from Ecology Road north to Twin Spits to provide paved shoulders is in the six-year schedule. In 2009, paving of the road shoulders on Hood Canal Drive from Ponderosa to Twin Spits is scheduled. Next will be widening and re-aligning Cliffside Road from Little Boston Road to Hood Canal Drive; a state grant has been received to support this project. Road improvement projects are chosen based upon their value in promoting safety and for improving infrastructure.

 

For the proposed Cross Connector Road project to go forward, it will be critically important for a substantial majority of north end residents to support it, including the willingness to approve a tax assessment to fund a substantial portion of it. For a County Road Improvement District (CRID) to be formed, a minimum of 60% support from north end residents would be required. Jon Brand will seek to update the estimated road construction cost from the work done in 1996. He also offered to assist the committee in working on proposed tax assessment data for use in community outreach efforts.

 

The next Cross Connector Road Committee meeting is scheduled to be held

September 30, 2008, at 1:00 p.m. at the Greater Hansville Community Center; the public is invited to attend.  

 

Gerry Porter, Chair

360-638-1150