Opinion: Kill the Resort. Build the Town.
This has never been about economic development in Brinnon
By Mark Rose
It’s time to admit that it was always a terrible idea to dump a resort at Black Point, and it was never about economic development for Brinnon.
The three parties involved in this imbroglio – the developer, county, and Tribes – are in conflict. Lawsuits have been threatened. Communication from the county about the resort proposal seems like it’s been scrubbed by lawyers preparing for deposition. Not a single sustainable job has been created in the 20 years since the Statesman Group applied for a site-specific MPR (Master Planned Resort) at Black Point. All we have so far is a cleared plot of land and too many logged trees.
This developer has never built a resort, has proven time and again that they don’t have the money to do so, has grossly misrepresented their project, and has treated local businesses disrespectfully. They’ve been slapped down for questionable practices in Canada, where they’re based, and given the current climate, it’s doubtful that anyone would bankroll a Canadian developer building a resort in the U.S.
We wouldn’t be in this predicament if the county had followed best practices for such a development, as the Brinnon Group repeatedly urged. The county did not conduct a feasibility study, did not insist on a bond, and did not verify the developer's financial resources. The great majority of these resort proposals fail. That’s why there are safeguards. The false mantra of “economic development” overrode sound judgment and basic due diligence.
A FEMA 100-year floodplain designation prevents any development within Brinnon. The real reason for the resort push is to plug the county’s budget deficit and benefit businesses elsewhere, leaving us with the burden of urban-scale development in our rural village.
There is a solution.
By this point, Statesman must recognize that their resort proposal is a lost cause. Instead of suing the county to recover their losses, as developers in other counties have done, they might be persuaded to sell to a reputable, experienced developer who will work with residents to make the best use of Black Point. Before it was zoned for an MPR, Black Point was a campground. It could be rezoned for modest residential development, cabins, campsites, kayaking, and other activities that honor the natural environment people come here for.
Community Development has a new director with extensive experience in exploring creative solutions to benefit rural communities. Alongside the County Administrator, who has been deeply involved in Brinnon planning for many years, I hope we can embrace bold solutions for Brinnon’s future.
