Thanks Chris .I will send this letter and attempt to go to the meeting ,and I second your call for boaters to rally around this issue.

Any idea how many cars the gravel shoulders can currently accommodate (assuming angled parking on the east side)?

Or how much parking we should ask them to provide?

Boaters:

Can you join us on Thursday afternoon in North Bend? There is a planning department hearing on a proposed housing development for 156 new homes that will have the effect of reducing boater access to the MM by eliminating a substantial amount of the current parking.

It is crucially important that boaters show up to request that the City maintain current access to the River. North Bend residents are particularly important.

A public hearing is set for Thursday, January 8 at 3:30 PM at the Mount Si Senior Center for 411 Main Avenue S., North Bend, Washington.

Edited by otterend - 07 Jan 2015 at 8:12am

It turned out to be an interesting evening last night in North Bend. The hearing on the proposed subdivision at Tanner Road (156 homes) went from 3:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. That sounds like a long time … and it was … but the presentations by the public were interesting and many. The three issues were traffic impacts, elk, and boater access. The traffic is a serious issue. A discussion was developed on the concerns by the neighboring communities on both sides of Seagale development. Obviously, existing residents on either side really do not want another car coming through their neighborhood. But fire and safety codes seem to require the new community to be accessible from both ends. Tanner Road runs close to the river, so environmental laws greatly affect what can be done.

The highlight for me was a fellow who had lived at the end of Tanner Road for more than 25 years. He is a member of the Duamish Tribe and a descendant of Chief Sealth. He spoke of the elk and their migrations through the lands in the area, including across the river and his property. He spoke in English and in his native American tongue. It was very moving.

Seven boaters spoke, including representatives from American Whitewater, Washington Kayak Club, Paddle Trails Canoe Club, and Washington Recreational River Runners (Chris Hermann). In advance of the hearing, American Whitewater, though Tom O’Keefe, submitted several excellent letters that contained detailed history and discussion why access and parking needed to be preserved. Our presentations were respectful to both the City and the developer. We emphasized the importance of preserving access to the unique, pristine natural resource that is the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River. In December 2014, the section above Concrete Bridge was designated by Congress as a Wild and Scenic River.

We outlined why boaters need wide shoulders to take boats off vehicles to stage shuttles, the safety concerns of narrowing the shoulders from 15’ to 6’, and how narrowing the shoulders would push boaters out into the roadway when we stage. Problems then arise because of the substantially increased traffic that will result from 156 new homes, plus traffic cutting through the new development from other adjoined neighborhoods. Additionally, because a new park will be created on the river side across from the current parking, there will be competition from new-park users and long-time boaters. No design has been provided for the increased use and its impact on current boater staging/parking.

We pointed out that the Tanner Access has been established for decades and that, in 2005, a report was issued that recognized the existing access (which specifically includes parking with wide gravel shoulders). The Report recommended that parking and access be preserved in the future. That report was generated by a joint working group that included the City of North Bend, Washington Department of Natural Resources, King County, University of Washington, US Forest Service, National Park Service, American Whitewater (Thanks Tom O’Keefe and Jennie Goldberg), Mountaineers, and other organizations. American Whitewater created that project, which culminates with a recommendation to develop a site called Tanner Landing just under 1 mile downstream from the current Tanner takeout to augment, not replace, the current access point. (A good reason to write a small check to American Whitewater to become a member.)

After the public spoke, the City and the Applicant (developer) addressed the public comments. Both the City and the Applicant acknowledged the boaters' concerns. The City said it had learned new information at the hearing that warranted reconsideration of the current subdivision proposal. The City committed to the Hearing Examiner to undertake changes to the design requirements the City is going to place on the subdivision conditions, and the Applicant likewise acknowledged that changes could be made to accommodate boater concerns. Discussion focused on such items as widening the shoulders of Tanner Road from the current proposed design by such steps as pushing out the proposed location of curbs, removing planters, moving back proposed sidewalks/bike corridors, developing the shoulder for parking on the west (river) side of the road, and developing off-road parking on the riverside in the location of the new park. We will have to see what the City and developer come up with. Next comments come out on January 21.

The boater community’s active participation in the comment period already has made a difference in obtaining changes to the design. And last night’s participation in the hearing hopefully will result in further beneficial mitigations to benefit boater access and parking. This housing development will be put in at some point. It will change out there. No doubt. But the boater access will remain.

FYI re the MM put in. I boated before the hearing. The road is closed right after one turns left onto the road that takes one toward Island Drop and Concrete Bridge, well before the road turns to gravel and before the parking location for the hike to Mailbox Peak. The closure does not allow one to access above A Frame. There’s an undeveloped, steep slope that one can hike down with a kayak to put in below A Frame. A fellow in a pick up at the road closure (enforcing the closure) says that the road will be rebuilt, but that it’s washed out in a couple of sections.

Chris Weiss

Great work! I'm sad to hear the road is washed out limiting access above A-Frame.

No matter what happens to the Tanner access we in the boating community have a rare gift in your participation .Thanks Chris for all your work and research on this subject. P.S you are a great public speaker .

Chris, thank you SO much for staying on top of progress and reporting.

ALL BOATERS, these changes are the direct result of your participation in the process. THANK YOU for your voice. YOU have made a difference.