SEQUIM – Pat Johansen hopes the Sequim City Council can slow down and let the town “take a breath.”
In a short, blunt speech during this week’s council meeting, Johansen reminded the seven men of what she believes is the message from the Nov. 6 election of four newcomers:
“The voters told you that they were unhappy with the city’s direction,” she said. “They rejected the cozy good ol’ boys’ culture.”
Johansen, 73, is a supporter of Ken Hays, Laura Dubois, Susan Lorenzen and Erik Erichsen – all elected earlier this month to replace John Beitzel, Ron Farquhar, Don Hall and Bob Anundson.
Some council members have become “friends of developers and real estate interests,” Johansen said.
“I wouldn’t for a minute attribute malice to anybody,” she added in an interview.
Johansen does want the sitting council members to move deliberately as they consider a docket of 10 proposals to rezone dozens of parcels across the city.
If approved, the rezoning would allow commercial, mixed-use or higher-density housing development on some 93 acres.
During Monday’s meeting city Planning Director Dennis Lefevre explained each proposal – and several times paused while members of the public, including newly elected council members, stood up to speak for or against them.
