What's Happening?
- Statesman needs to have written agreements with a number of organizations, including the Brinnon School District. These agreement are required in the ordinance that permits Statesman and Jefferson County to continue with the development. These agreements are called Memoranda of Agreement or MOUs.
The Brinnon Group has filed several legal actions about the development process. Statesman and the county asked the court to rule that the legal actions were "frivolous." The Court ruled against the county and Statesman.- Jefferson County Department of Community Development is working on a Supplemental Environmental Statement (SEIS). They held a public meeting and took written comments in November for the SEIS. Written comments can been seen at www.co.jefferson.wa.us/commdevelopment/Brinnon_MPR.htm
- The state Department of Ecology
has approved two Statesman applications for water rights. The Brinnon Group has obtained reports from two independent hydrogeologists and may file legal appeals.
- The county commissioners have adopted a proposed Shoreline Management Program (SMP). The SMP was submitted to the state Department of Ecology for the final review and adoption process. The SMP will probably be adopted in 2010. The SMP sets shoreline buffers for new building. The new buffers may or may not apply to the development.
Garth Mann has stated that Statesman currently does not have the money to build the resort. He describes the venture as being "risky, with no guarantee of return in today's volatile real estate market." Trying to obtain the necessary funds, Statesman has applied to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for approval under the EB-5 Visa Program. The EB-5 Program provides "green cards" to foreign investors and their families. Statesman's eligibility for this program hinges on the federal government designating Jefferson County and part of Mason County a "regional center," partly based on unemployment rates and the promise of jobs. Foreign investors paying from $500,000 to $1,000,000 and creating 10 jobs will initially receive a green card and be able to apply for permanent residence status after a 2-year conditional period. Under the USCIS formula, Statesman would be allowed to involve at least 232 foreign investors. Investors will be given titled ownership to residential vacation suite(s) and have policy-making authority concern maintenance, upkeep and leasing.
