Ebey's Landing Administrative History

In 1973, First Realty and the Smith family attempted to address the aesthetic complaints raised by their first proposal for Ebey's Prairie. They now recognized, they said, that "sales will come as a result of [our] not destroying the very reasons for locating condominiums here." First Realty redrew its plans to minimize visual intrusions and to contain development in a "working ranch" or "ranchettes," where homes camouflaged with sod roofs would be confined to nineteen acres along the northwestern ridge of the Smith property. The Rocking K-Bar Ranch Corporation hoped that such proposed alterations would lay to rest concerns about building on the scenic Ebey's Prairie landscape. In October 1973 they presented their plans to the county planning commission, explaining to the commissioners that the northwestern ridge soils were too poor to cultivate and that the area was better suited to housing than farming. Citing high taxes, they argued that they must develop a portion of their farm in order to hold onto the rest. [38]

Some members of the public were satisfied with the new plans, but others objected. The environmental impact statement prepared for the Smiths did not address the potential recreational uses of the ranch by the new condo dwellers, nor did it consider in detail the impact of the proposed community on county facilities. In the opinion of the Northwest National Seashore Alliance the report had expressed intentions to maintain the view unimpaired for the enjoyment of the owners, without considering the visual impact of the project from the other side of the valley. [39] Friends of Ebey's members praised the Smiths for trying to adapt to their concerns, but insisted that a housing development could not be hidden anywhere on the broad sweep of Ebey's Prairie. They and the new Central Whidbey Island Historic Advisory Committee also questioned if the "working ranch" would truly remain undeveloped. They reminded the commission that a national seashore might still be possible. Representative Meeds had recently informed the Island County Planning Commission that he was working with an International Joint Commission of the United States and Canada to plan an international marine park that might include the area. [40] Upon reflection the planning commission decided to postpone a decision on the plat until all had considered the environmental impact statement prepared for the project. [41] Perhaps to remind environmentalists that it still controlled the property, the Rocking K-Bar Ranch posted a sign warning the public that access onto the property from the north was limited and could be revoked at any time. [42]

The planning commission resumed public discussion of the Smith plat in the spring and summer of 1974, meeting three times amid accelerating controversy before approving the project with only minor changes. [43] The attorneys for the project had argued so vigorously against changes to the plans that they created doubts for some people that they would honor their design pledge. Since most residents, including local farmers, agreed that the open landscape was worth preserving, the commission's vote to support the project was especially galling to environmentalists. Al Ryan of SWIFT accused Island County of supporting a platting department rather than a planning department, while the Northwest National Seashore Alliance could only hope that "nobody is going to be fool enough to build Levittown in the middle of the largest Historic Preservation District in the nation." Ken Pickard, twenty-three-year-old son of local businessman Herb Pickard, saw Commissioner Carl Mecklenberg [44] wink at Roberta Smith during the proceedings, as if, Pickard thought, to assure her that public testimony would not affect his vote. The Smiths and Pickards had been friends and neighbors for three generations, but this moment was something of an epiphany for Ken. He made up his mind at that moment to remain in law school (which he had considered dropping) in order to combat the pro- development forces in control of the future of Ebey's Prairie. Ken went on to study environmental law with Roger Leed at the University of Washington. He and his wife Claire became guiding forces in the Friends of Ebey's, as well as outspoken opponents of subsequent development projects proposed for the area in the decades to follow. When Ken finished law school he and Claire remained in central Whidbey Island. Earlier they had received Robert Pratt's permission to re-open Jacob Ebey's abandoned house on the ridgetop. Living within three hundred feet of Roberta Smith, the Pickards hovered over Ebey's Prairie like guardian angels--or avenging angels, depending upon one's point of view. [45]

The public challenges from neighbors and the Friends of Ebey's left the Smiths hurt and angry. The Smith widows thought that other landowners might have done no differently with the property had it been theirs. Winning final county approval for their plat did not solve their financial problems; nor did they build the "ranchettes." Robert Hanson had sunk into debt on his Holmes Harbor project, and had invested heavily in Seabreeze. Now these projects were failing and he was unable to make mortgage payments or to proceed with the Rocking K-Bar development. In September 1976, Roberta Smith Hem [46] foreclosed on the mortgage at a public auction on the steps of the Island County Courthouse. Her lawyer, Chester Adair, placed the only bid. The property went into receivership for one year as Roberta and Marion, whose husband George had died in February, put up the farm and their houses as loan collateral. Because the Smith family was burdened with estate taxes and debts from the First Realty debacle, they announced that they must sell some of their land quickly. They also acknowledged that they would prefer to sell the land to a government land management agency. Adair began immediate negotiations with the state to sell the waterfront properties. [47]