Thank you for reporting on the closure by the Kitsap County Public Works Department of the only footpath access to the public beach in northeast Suquamish (“Neighbors angered by foot path’s closure,” page A1, April 29 Herald).

My wife and I moved to Suquamish in February 2015. We noticed last year a private fence being installed with a locked gate closing off access to the property to the north. I  assumed, at the time, that this was done for privacy and for securing one’s property rights. Later, we saw a “stop work notice” from Kitsap County. The notice stated the fence was installed without a permit. Also, sighting down James Street, I can see that the fence encroaches onto the public right of way. I couldn’t confirm this then without having an engineering survey performed.

After seeing the notice, I thought that the fence would either be removed or, if it were an encroachment, be relocated to the property line along the James Street extension. We were  surprised to see from your article that the fence is still in place; and that, furthermore, a new chain link fence has been installed, effectively closing off all access to the beach!

I am also surprised that the new fence was installed by Kitsap County Public Works.

We support the efforts of the Suquamish Citizens Advisory Committee to have the access reopened in compliance with Washington’s Shoreline Management Act. It is odd that the discussion of the closure did not make the  March 18 meeting minutes — normally, we check these minutes when they are posted at the corner store. We will plan to  attend the next SCAC meeting to hear of any progress on this matter.

Also, we support the efforts of the North Kitsap Trails Association (NKTA)  to submit an application as mentioned in your article.  I am not sure what is needed for the NKTA to proceed on this effort, and would appreciate any information you can give us.

Ed Mullaney
Anne Erwin
Suquamish