Several speakers at Wednesday night’s Poulsbo City Council public hearing on the Shoreline Master Program advocated for floatplanes in Liberty Bay; I take the opposite view.

Floatplane access to Liberty Bay should be prohibited.

Planes dominate wherever they are. Even in a large city harbor such as that in Victoria, Canada, the roar during take-off or landing causes all eyes to turn. These fast-moving machines monopolize long stretches of the harbor, and when taxiing they fill the air with sound (not to mention scattering the seabirds and also threatening kayakers and boaters). Even the few planes that now fly over Kitsap waters take over the stillness otherwise enjoyed by thousands.

Living just south of Keyport, I and my neighbors would be on the “landing strip” created by the actions of a floatplane-allowing Poulsbo SMP. Having an airport-equivalent in Poulsbo is a terrible idea that should be rejected.

Michael Maddox
Poulsbo