Several commentors mentioned the importance of preserving historic buildings.

Some suggested setting up an endowment fund for historic preservation or donating time and money and using volunteers.

Others suggested using facade easements to help preserve historic buildings along with land easements.

Someone asked how one finds the funding to maintain historic buildings, such as barns, that are no longer needed but contribute to the cultural landscape.

As an added preservation strategy for historic properties, the Reserve should consider a tax abatement program at the town or county level which would provide incentives to property owners through tax credits or other incentives. The Reserve should also explore the possibility of federal tax credits.

The Reserve should provide technical support for owners who would like to upgrade their historic houses for energy efficiency, but in keeping with historic regulations.

Natural Resources

The Reserve needs to develop a workable technical assistance program for both natural and cultural resources.

Several commentors mentioned the importance of hedgerows and the need to maintain them in cooperation with the county. Landowners who protect them could be offered financial incentives.

The Reserve should protect botanical resources through easements and eliminate noxious weeds such as poison hemlock.

A commentor mentioned the need to preserve or restore the existing prairie fragments. The Reserve should first identify them and then develop a plan to encourage landowners to preserve them.

The Reserve needs a formal arrangement with Seattle Pacific University to continue to operate and maintain the tide gate. It needs to be repaired so that it operates properly.

Someone asked about the role and management of fire.

• Introduction
• Public Comment Analysis
• GMP Planning Steps and Schedule

Most of the recreational comments were concerned about trail use. Trails need to be carefully planned, implemented, and managed; people need to be educated about appropriate trail uses.

Many would like to see the trail system enhanced with better signage.

Trails could be developed across The Nature Conservancy's property, and the north side of Crockett Lake (for bird watching).

A continuous multi-use, non-motorized trail could link with existing Reserve, state, and county trails including Fort Ebey and Fort Casey state parks, the Kettles Geological Park, Ebey's Landing bluff, Crockett Blockhouse, Rhododendron Park and Coupeville.

Some trails need to be relocated and some uses prohibited at certain locations (such as bicycling on the bluffs).

The Reserve should establish a trail for people with disabilities.

A few commentors were concerned about noisy activities on Penn Cove, specifically the use of personal watercrafts (jet skis) and floatplanes.

Someone mentioned the need for better boat access to Penn Cove.

The Reserve could have groups such as Whidbey Audubon lead nature field trips within the Reserve.

Many people recognized the importance of bicycles in the Reserve, both to reduce traffic and as the best way to see the Reserve. This would involve having access to conveniently located and well-designed bicycle racks.

Someone suggested that the Reserve subsidize a short-term bicycle rental program in Coupeville until the idea becomes profitable for the private sector.

The Reserve needs to better understand the sport requirements of certain recreational activities, such as paragliding and horse back riding and their impacts. Someone asked what types of uses are appropriate within the Reserve and how they affect private landowners.

Analysis continued >>>