Does this smell of conflict of interest or not in the development of a new auto mall along Sidney Road in Port Orchard near Berry Lake Road, between an elementary school and a junior high (“Auto mall plans defy difficulties faced by dealers,” Jan. 9)?

And throw in the fact the developer/owner of the property, Fred Depee, also is a member of the Kitsap County Planning Commision.

Of course he’s going to vote for approval. Duh.

Mr. Depee states when he bought the property, it had a drug house and junkyard. He states while he had thought of a storage facility and health club for this location, he had no investors, so South Kitsap is getting a car lot.

We have Grey Chevrolet and Bay Ford, along with Vlist Motors, which seem to serve Port Orchard’s needs quite well, with many other upscale choices as near as Bremerton and Tacoma.

Apparently, the Planning Commision sees the need for another car lot.

I believe that property is located within city limits, so that will provide tax revenue with each car sale. (That will help pay the mayor’s big salary).

And maybe a few jobs locally.

I am positive I speak for many in that area and those near the Lowe’s location and even the many frustrated with Bethel Road that we hope to see infrastructure concerns addressed.

With this great new car lot drawing many, there will be added traffic congestion on a two-lane country road.

I hope Mr. Depee is planning to provide added sidewalks as needed, turn lanes and a light.

After all, Lowe’s was required to put in a state-of-the-art traffic signal, complete with traffic backups in the afternoons.

As Mr. Depee was hard at work getting his project through the Kitsap Planning Commision (did I mention he’s on the board?), did he consider that the new Chinese buffet going in on Bethel Road in Port Orchard may need to do some infrastucture restructuring so that the residents that travel Bethel do not have the same cluster mess we deal with at the new strip mall/roller rink right up the road?

Was traffic even considered for the Chinese buffet before final approval? (Something tells me no, so that when the residents get so frustrated, they will of course vote for a Bethel Road Improvement Package, i.e., more taxes, unless now that the city is attempting, or has, annexed out to Fred Meyer, the city plans to pay for much-needed, long-ignored improvements).

In closing, I hope Mr. Depee realizes that many people have put off car buying due to the recession we are currently in and maybe a health club would fare better on that property than a six-acre plot of blacktop.

ANN WELSH

Port Orchard