Thursday, July 17, 2014 -Mason County Journal- Page A-3
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By GORDON WEEKS
gordon@masoncoun com
Ken and Jeannine Lar-
son have no problems finding
off-leash dog parks for their
two canines to roam in Cali-
fornia, where they spend half
the year. They also enjoyed
many options near their for-
mer home in Seattle, including
Magnuson Park.
But since moving to Mason
County, the Larsons can't find
a single place where their dogs
can run free and socialize.
For many people, dogs are
"more like surrogate children,"
Ken Larson told members of
the city of Shelton's Parks
and Recreation Advisory Com-
mittee on Monday evening.
"People want their dogs to be
happy."
Dogs need opportunities to
socialize with dogs, and they
also need exercise, Larson
said.
"A dog is not meant to sit
around bored all day," he said.
For the past year, the ad-
visory committee has been
discussing the development of
an off-leash dog park in the
Shelton area. Pets are not al-
lowed in city parks. Owners
can walk their dogs on leashes
on the city's Huff'n' Pufftrails
on Shelton Springs Road. Dogs
are required to be on leashes
in the city,
The closest dog park is in
northeast Thurston County,
a 5-acre site that formerly
served as part of the landfill in
the Hawk's Prairie area.
The talks are preliminary,
but as board member Bill
Young stressed at Monday's
meeting, "It seems to me we
need the land first."
Mark Ziegler, director of the
Shelton Parks and Recreation
Department, said the dog
park doesn't have to be within
the Shelton city limits. But
Ziegler said he reached out to
the county parks department
about an off-leash dog park,
and "it's not on their priority
list."
The Larsons were among
four residents who attended
Monday's meeting.
Jeannine Larson said there
are two types of people who
use off-leash dog parks: those
who stroll with their dogs, and
others who sit in chairs and
chat with each other with their
dogs nearby.
Ken Larson said a basic dog
park needs land -- even as lit-
tle as a half acre -- a fence, a
garbage can and a list of rules.
People can bring their own wa-
ter, he said.
A park the couple frequents
in California is divided into
ball fields, a children's area
and an off-leash dog park,
Jeannine Larson said.
"They're not on top of each
other, but they're part of the
same park," she said.
Ken Larson said he walks
his dog on the trails in the new
Mason County-owned Oakland
Bay Historical Park off Agate
Road, despite a large sign that
states "No dogs allowed." Lar-
son said he rarely encounters
anyone on their strolls, and
the trails are becoming over-
grown.
He suggested the park
would be an ideal location for
dogs to roam offleash. He also
suggested that the owners of
tree farms could designate a
few acres for such a facility.
Advisory committee mem-
ber Marilyn Vogler suggested
an ideal site might be the
grass parking lot where disc
golfers park next to the Huff'n'
Puff. Jeannine Larson agreed,
pointing out that the site
would be seen by many drivers
at that busy intersection.
Young said the committee
also talked to the Squaxin Is-
land Tribe about establishing
an off-leash park near the ca-
sino, but they were not enthu-
siastic.
The parks advisory com-
mittee next meets at 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 11 at the Shelton Civic
Center, 525 W. Cota St.
commission
ates d
Chamber seeks money
for improvement study
By GORDON WEEKS
gordon@masoncounty, com
The city of Shelton is considering
contributing money toward a downtown
"visioning" project proposed by the Shel-
ton Mason County Chamber of Com-
merce, but one commissioner said he is
"skeptical" about its usefulness.
"I don't know if there's a lot that can
come out of this," Commissioner Mike
Olsen said at the commission's study
session Monday. He added, "I don't
want to see another (study) put on the
shelf and nothing comes of it."
The chamber is asking the city for
$25,000 to help hire the Seattle-based
firm Forterra to create a "vision" for
downtown.
The chamber requested the mon-
ey at the Shelton City Commission's
work session on June 30. The orga-
nization proposes to pay $54,000 to
Seattle-based Forterra -- formerly
the Cascade Land Conservancy -- to
help create "a complete downtown vi-
sion and a trajectory for improving our
downtown business corridor," accord-
ing to the request.
Downtown businesses would contrib-
ute the remaining $29,000 for the proj-
ect, Chamber Executive Director Heidi
McCutcheon told the commission June
30. Green Diamond Resource Co. has
already made a financial commitment,
she said.
The proposed work includes advice
by experts in architecture and "walk-
ability," and on getting downtown busi-
nesses and organizations to work to-
gether.
On Monday, City Administrator
Dave O'Leary said the city could con-
tribute about one-third of the $54,000,
or about $18,000. That money could be
drawn from the city's strategic reserves,
he told the commissioners.
If the study is completed by June,
some of it could be incorporated into the
city's comprehensive plan, said Steve
Goins, the city's director of community
and economic development.
But Olsen said he feels the city should
not put up any money until the chamber
has secured the downtown business's
share for the project, as well as a list of
businesses that have contributed.
"I fear it will be a small number of
businesses and Green Diamond," he
said.
Some of the wording in the Forterra
proposal is vague, Olsen said.
"What's a 'walkability study?' " he
asked. "Can't we do that ourselves?"
Olsen also noted that no repre-
sentatives from the chamber were
attending the meeting. The organiza-
tion's presence would have allowed
for some "give and take" on the dis-
cussion, he said.
Commissioner Tracy Moore said she
supports the proposed project.
"What's valuable is that it does pro-
vide a vision for city policies and cohe-
siveness among projects," she said.
The project allows everyone the op-
portunity to examine what they like
about the city, and to think about what
they want changed, Moore said. Forter-
ra will also help find money to fund the
proposals, she said.
Forterra also has a good reputation,
which gives the project more credibility
as the city seeks grant money to fund
projects, Cronce said. While residents
and merchants have many opinions on
what should happen in downtown Shel-
ton, Forterra brings "an outside voice,"
he said.
Cronce then announced he will con-
tribute $2,000 to the project, not as a
commissioner, but as the owner of the
downtown business Case by Case Jew-
elers.
Cronce said he agrees with O'Leary
that the city should be the lead agency
on the project. He said he supports the
city covering one-third of the cost, which
would be about $18,000.
The commission is scheduled to dis-
cuss the proposal again at its regular
meeting at 6 p.m. Monday.
The success of the proposed plan will
depend on the support of the chamber
and downtown businesses, O'Leary
said.
"If you don't think you can work it
out, it will be a waste of money," he said.
Closures today, Friday on Northcliff Road
STAFF REPORT
news@masoncounty com
Northcliff Road in Shelton will be
closed from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today
and Friday as a crew replaces a cul-
vert on Canyon Creek.
Northcliff Road will be closed be-
tween Birch and Poplar streets during
that time.
Traffic changes will be posted on
signs at North 13th Street, Poplar
Street and San Joaquin Avenue. Up-
dated information also is available at
the city's website at www.ci.shelton.
wa.us.
The Shelton Mason
County Chamber of
Commerce proposes
to pay $54,000
to Seattle-based
Forterra to help
create "a complete
downtown vision
and a trajectory
for improving our
downtown business
corridor."
Journal photo
by Gordon Weeks
ATI'ENTION VOTERS & CONCERNED CITIZENS.*
DO YOU KNOW that current Mason County zoning laws permit
commercial Marijuana Producer/Processor operations in your rural
residential neighborhood?
DO YOU KNOW that the money from Marijuana operations goes
straight to the State & not to the benefit of Mason County?
DO YOU KNOW that while State law requires these to be 1,000 ft
away from public spaces, the County permits Prod./Proc. operations to
be just 100 ft away from your home/child's school bus stop?
DO YOU KNOW that these compound-like facilities have a perimeter
of security cameras & operation hours of 8am to MIDNIGHT?
DO YOU KNOW that WA Liquor Control Board official reports (liq.
wa.gov) also warn:
• "Due to the high monetary value placed upon marijuana, areas
can experience a number of home invasion robberies, thefts &
murders related to marijuana cultivation."
• "Marijuana plants produce a distinctive odor that is often
detectable far beyond property boundaries. This strong, distinctive
odor can interfere with neighboring owners use & enjoyment of
their property. In addition, this odor...may alert malefactors to the
location where marijuana is grown, creating the risk of burglary &
robbery at the location."
• "Water use & fertilizer runoff to streams or groundwater is also
a concern...Only soils in high state of fertility produce good crops
of hemp. In particular, we recommend adequate application of
nitrogen & phosphorus, practices that put streams & groundwater
at risk of pollution."
DO YOU KNOW that Mason County requires no environmental
impact tests, water/runoff tests or requirements for these operations,
r ?
providing almost no oversight to how it will affect you neighborhood.
DO YOU KNOW this is NOT a fight against Marijuana, 1-502 or
business, but a plea for our County Officials to properly zone for this
industry & still protect county citizens & property?
DO YOU KNOW that your presence at the Tuesday, July 22 at 6:30
PM Commissioners Meeting will inform your elected officials on how
to votel Attend & demand a change to
Zoning Laws & keep these out of your
RURAL RESIDENTIAL neighborhood!
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