We had a very informative and entertaining walk through much of the property with a Whidbey Island consultant who specialized in land evaluation, forestry, slopes, and pre-building site inspections. We learned a lot. He had a policy of not providing a written report, which was...
I met with the archaeologist and his field technician today. They performed a visual reconnaissance of the entire property, and then began digging test holes at selected locations on a grid system. Their initial assessment early in the day was that there was little likelihood of an archaeological...
The title company had not yet sent me the preliminary title report attachments, so I requested that the information be sent to me via email. I was able to get into sleuthing mode detail, scouring the arcane language of surveys, easements, restrictive covenants, plats, and more. Some very...
We learned some interesting history about the area from our friendly easterly neighbors. It's likely that nothing has ever been built on our property except for perhaps part of a small dilapidated logging cabin from around the 1920s that was on the northwest corner of their property and partially...
A very friendly and forthcoming ex-planner from Island County government got back to me today by phone. We had a detailed discussion about the seller's prior application for land subdivision which was previously somewhat held up by an archaeological concern from the Swinomish tribe. I don't...
Primary focus today was on providing lots of info to both the consulting forester / land use consultant that I am going to hire (Greenbelt Consulting) and the archaeology firm that I am hiring to perform the...
I made contact with some more informative folks today. The Swinomish tribe planner returned my earlier call today, and he appreciated my proactive approach to involving them and keeping them informed. Since he was not familiar with the prior potential letter sent by the tribe and any specifics...
We have mutual acceptance!!! After three other failed attempts to purchase Whidbey land, and years of hard searching, at least this fourth serious attempt has moved to the first stage of mutual acceptance. I have a one month feasibility study ahead, and a lot of proactive work to do in that time.
Lots of coordinating. Lots of people. Lots of tasks. My oh my. Looks like I have a third job besides my two paying ones right now. The State Assistant Archaeologist at the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic...
Ho ho ho, and more research! I received the information packet from the listing agent. Lots of good info in there. The obvious issue from that information packet is ensuring that there is mutual respect for the Swinomish and their nearby cemetery. They apparently created somewhat of a perceived...