August 2017
IN THIS
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www.AllPointBulletin.com
Virginia Lester appointed commissioner, page 5
Sen. Ericksen gets frosty reception from Point voters
Water district considers new rate, page 9
Get ready for the Salmon Derby, page 9
ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 14 Point Roberts, WA 98281 Postal Patron Local
Getting green again ...
Meg Olson
Washington state senator Doug Ericksen prefaced his appearance at the Point Roberts Taxpayers’ Association AGM with a stop at Kiniski’s Reef Tavern for a couple of pints of beer before heading off to face a less than friendly crowd, some of whom had thoroughly enjoyed the opening wine and cheese reception. Ericksen was the featured speaker at the July 13 annual general meeting of the taxpayers’ association, held on the barge at the Point Roberts Marina. The turnout was impressive, remarked association president Mark Robbins, and the 5:30 p.m. meeting got rolling with a wine and cheese reception, followed by the association’s business meeting. Ericksen, who represents the 42nd legislative district, arrived at the tail end of the association business and began his comments with observations about the factors affecting our region and recent significant legislation in Olympia. “In our world today, we are currently living through the largest mass migration of people in history,” he said. “It’s interesting to look at that and see how that shapes our policies, how that shapes everyday lives, everything we decide from transportation to education. The fundamental rub point is really nationalism versus globalism.” After covering property tax changes to address education funding, Ericksen found himself interrupted by Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee president Joel Lantz, who asked, “Can we talk about Point Roberts? That’s what all these people are here for.” Still, as Ericksen began to take questions from the floor the flavor was more global than local. “You have consistently been a climate change denialist and I want to know (See Ericksen, page 6)
s Work on rehabilitating the Point Roberts golf course has already begun after new owner Coco Luo took possession of the property.
Photo by Louise Mugar
Point Roberts golf course sold, repair work started By Meg Olson After a string of false starts and deals that fell through, the Point Roberts Golf and Country Club is officially under new ownership and on the road to recovery. On July 5, the sale of the 194-acre golf course to Bald Eagle Valley Resort Holdings Inc. closed for $4.45 million. “We’ll have a full work crew out starting Monday to start cleaning everything up,” said Wayne Knowles, spokesman for man-
aging partner Coco Luo. Luo will be working with course designer Wayne Carleton and superintendent Rick Hoole to undertake extensive renovation of the degraded golf course. The rehabilitation work will cost “a substantial amount of money,” Knowles said. They hope to have the course open in early 2018. Future plans include a new clubhouse near the 8th hole but Lou’s “focus right now is getting the golf course back to where it was.” The sale includes two undeveloped res-
Reno Ranch to be subdivided into 19 lots By Meg Olson Twenty-five acres of high-bank waterfront situated across Marine Drive from the golf course, locally known as Reno Ranch, are slated for development as up to 19 residential building lots, according to local developer Wayne Knowles. Knowles, representing the owners of the Azure Coast project, speaking at the July 11 meeting of the Point Roberts Commu-
nity Advisory Committee (PRCAC), said the property, zoned resort commercial, could have been subdivided into 50 lots. “I’ve been working with the developer and we’ve decided to put forward 19,” in an upcoming application to Whatcom County. The property is almost 40 percent wetlands, concentrated to the south, he added. A pond in the center of the property will be retained “as an amenity,” Knowles said. If approved, the lots will be approxi-
mately 30,000 square feet with 70 to 80 feet of waterfront frontage extending down to the shoreline. Each lot will have an individual septic system. “I’ve always been concerned about this property,” Knowles said. “With a community septic system, someone could possibly build 500 units, all condos.” Unlike the Cottages at Seabright Farm, another project Knowles manages, this (See Reno Ranch, page 2)
idential areas that have a total of 60 building lots. Former owner Kenji Nose will retain the existing five townhomes and two single-family homes on 1.12 acres. Luo is a Canadian permanent resident living in Richmond who owns two golf courses in China designed by Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, Knowles said. “She (See Golf course, page 7)
Church . . . . . . . . . 7 Classifieds . . . . . 20 Coming Up . . . . . 18 Library . . . . . . . . .16 Obituaries . . . . . 22 Opinion . . . . . . . . 4 Seniors . . . . . . . . 16 Sheriff . . . . . . . . . .22 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 16
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