Questions for Laurie Caskey-Schreiber, Candidate for County Council, Council At- Large Position

1) With growth inevitable, do you distinguish between desirable and undesirable development?

I think desirable growth is growth  that adds some value to the community as a whole. Provides needed housing, creates a pedestrian way of life, provides amenities such as parks or commercial businesses that provide a needed service to citizens of the community and creates job opportunities. Growth that is undesirable to me is housing where everyone has to use their car to do anything (even walking their dog safely), and sprawl that consumes farmland or threatens our natural resources. To me that's damaging growth.

2) Building a berm to protect the beach and enhance walking, cycling, etc. for residents and visitors is a primary objective of leaders of the Birch Bay community. What would you do to help the community achieve this objective?

I think the community would greatly benefit from the berm being established and I would support any efforts to make this project a reality. One way that we could make that happen would be to award a rural sales tax funded grant. One could make a very strong argument that this would make Birch Bay more attractive on many fronts, which in turn would enhance their tourism business and, environmentally speaking,it would be a win/win scenario.

With the goal of increasing infill, would you vote to prevent the fire district from charging mitigation fees for homes and other structures built within the 2031-revised Birch Bay UGA boundaries?

I assisted in crafting the school impact fee ordinance, so I believe in the concept of impact fees. If the fire district is allowed to collect impact fees by the State, I would support their ability to do so.

4) Those who want Birch Bay to become a city are frustrated. Two years ago the county invested $100,000 in a study that found incorporation would be financially feasible. Now with the economic recession, some of the premises of the study may not be valid. Would you favor a select committee of county officials and knowledgeable community representatives being charged with updating the 2008 recommendations?

I think this is a very complex issue that will constantly need public participation and assessment of changing market conditions. For Birch Bay to become a city, it has to make financial sense and not place a huge burden on the community to proceed or not to proceed. We all need to help Burch Bay find their way. That's why I supported funding the incorporation study in the first place. The force to become a city has to come from the citizens of Birch Bay. The county could facilitate some public process to vet this out more, but Birch Bay really needs to weigh the pros and cons, and then eventually conduct a public vote on the matter. Whatever they decide, I'll still work hard to serve the community, and support them in whatever direction they feel is best for the area.

Ms. Caskie-Schreiber has served on the Whatcom County Council since 2001, two years as council chair. She is a graduate of WWU and is administrative service manager of the university's sociology department.

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