It’s clear that a Vashon Town Plan plan change being considered by the county would be good for a group of three investors hoping to manufacture edible marijuana products on Vashon. What’s not clear is whether the change is right for Vashon. We’re concerned that King County has already made up its mind on the significant amendments it has proposed to our town plan. But we hope that county representatives who visit the island tonight will truly listen to public feedback and will move forward accordingly.

Multiple county officials have said that amending the Vashon Town Plan, which is folded into the King County Comprehensive Plan, simply makes sense. When the King County Council passed a marijuana ordinance last year, it intended for marijuana business to be allowed at all properties zoned accordingly in unincorporated King County. Amending Vashon’s town plan to allow those marijuana businesses within the plan’s boundaries as well, they say, is like cleanup work. The amendment already has support on the council.

We’re concerned, however, that this take simplifies the situation. It also doesn’t allow for much public feedback on a significant change to a plan that was created by islanders and was vetted at the time by the island. The proposed amendments would not only allow Bakkhos Holding to move one step closer to setting up its large manufacturing operation at the K2 building. It would add marijuana as an acceptable use at many properties zoned Commercial Business or Industrial in Vashon town, at Center and even at Sunrise Ridge. It would open the door to more marijuana business closer to the heart of the island, something that could change the face of Vashon.

With little local government on Vashon, our town plan has been one way to give locals a say in what shapes the place we live. Significant changes to the plan should be vetted by locals, not simply handed down from King County. We also question whether the county is pushing this change forward in part because of the apparent urgency created by the company that is in the process of purchasing K2. Holding off on the amendment would mean missing the deadline for this year and potentially waiting another year for a town plan change.

We expect islanders will speak at tonight’s public meeting both for and against the town plan change, for a host of reasons. Some are concerned about the type of business going in at K2. Others have environmental concerns that there is little time to address, much less fully understand. Others welcome and support the new marijuana business, which is legal, will provide local jobs and could bring other benefits. At this point, the county could move forward quickly with its planned amendment; it could alter the proposal based on feedback, or it could put a hold on the process for now. Whatever it chooses, we hope it moves forward based on community feedback, not based on what it believes the county council already decided or based on marijuana investors’ time crunch to secure their plans and close on the K2 building.