With barely a quorum, the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee (PRCAC) voted 2-1 to recommend to the county that if Guy Garba’s unpermitted storage business at the corner of Tyee Drive and Benson Road came into compliance with county codes they would support the application.
“I know you’ve been going through this process for a few years and as part of that process county planning and development services have asked us to review and make a recommendation on this project,” acting chair Joel Lantz said to Garba at the October 18 PRCAC meeting.
Garba, who opened the RV and boat storage facility at 386 Tyee Drive in 2012 without a permit, said he had spent the last five years trying to come into compliance and get out from under county code violations. “This is the last checklist item,” he said.
Among other measures, the county has required Garba to install stormwater management facilities, screen the property from roads and undertake restoration of disturbed wetlands to bring the property into compliance. He will also need to move the access to the property to Benson Road from its current Tyee Drive driveway.
PRCAC member Keith Glading wanted to have all details of the application and county requirements discussed and made available to the public before taking action. “He has been operating a business all this time with no permit” while other businesses have had to comply with the rules, he said.
Speaking from the audience, Allison Calder said RV storage use was allowed at that location under county code and “the community cannot stop him from doing something he is legally allowed to do on that property. He made a mistake, he’s legally dealing with the county and it is being corrected.”
Lantz and committee member Linda Hughes agreed and on 2–0 vote, the committee approved sending a letter to the county supporting the application.
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