Upwards of 250 to 300 people attended a public meeting Monday at the 7 Cedars Resort to learn more about a planned project to build a multi-use waterfront community on 160 acres of property adjacent to the John Wayne Marina. Known as the “Sequim Bay West Neighborhood”, it’s a 600 home project modeled after Seabrook, a resort startup community on the Washington coast in Grays Harbor County that’s grown to 600 homes in the past 20 years.  Seabrook CEO Casey Roloff told the gathering yesterday the project focuses on creating a walkable community with commercial retail sites surrounded by relatively dense residential properties with parks and open spaces.

“And now a lot of people are realizing with climate change, with the environment, that we need to build more compact walk able places. So the reality when you live in a walkable community, 70 percent of our vehicle trips are cut out of our lives because those places we would normally drive our car to now we’re walking to those places. So, again, compact walkable places they’re good for people, they’re good for the environment and it’s a smarter way to grow into the future.”

He says Monday's gathering was the third public meeting they’ve held about the project.

“This meeting tonight is actually mandated by the City of Sequim. One of the requirements to make an application is to have public meetings. We did our first two public meetings back in April. And that’s because we want to get out in front of it, we want to hear to hear questions. We want to hear concerns and those of you that were at that meeting hopefully know that we’ve been proactive and again, trying to answer your questions.”

Questions raised at Monday’s meeting ranged from concerns about availability of water, traffic congestion and who will be paying for sewer and water infrastructure costs. He said one of the requirements of the city is doing a complete traffic study before the final application can be turned in and they are still awaiting that. Anyone with additional questions or comments is encourage too submit those online at sequiminfo@seabrookwa.com