HANSVILLE — After several years of collecting data to establish what Hansville could look like by 2020, the committees behind the Greater Hansville Area Futures Project offered their findings to the community to see if they were within the realm of what residents desired.

The committees, made up of representatives from various groups within the Greater Hansville Area (all neighborhoods from Little Boston and north), have been gathering information about Hansville’s history and what currently exists, such as utilities and social services. Members have also been analyzing the information to create an idea of what the area could look like by the year 2020 based on current trends.

Approximately 60 residents attended an April 6 meeting at the Port Gamble S’Klallam longhouse to talk about what they felt should have received more emphasis or been stressed less in the documents created. Incorporated in the discussion were a list of the ideals residents value in the area, what Hansville could look like if residents retain those values and what the area would look like based on current trends.

A variety of issues were raised, including the need for additional emphasis on traffic safety and improved relationships with the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe.

Another matter raised was lack of emphasis on urban access, such as creating easier ways for motorists to get to the ferry terminals in Kingston and Winslow and the minimal bus service currently offered in the community.

“We can’t get on the ferries like we want to,” said resident Tony Atkinson, noting Hansville residents need bus runs during the day.

Resident Jane Ritley said she would like to see more public transit, as it would facilitate access to urban areas, and would fit in with the community values of wanting less traffic and less impact on neighborhoods.

It would also be good for the senior citizen community, she added.

Another issue tackled was development. Residents want to retain the small town feel as well as keep the community from becoming unaffordable for working families.

Resident David Pregartner said he wants to see if there would be any way to keeping the houses of Hansville from becoming “super mansions,” noting the large homes that are starting to show up on the hillsides are ruining the small town feel of the area.

“Edmonds used to be like Hansville,” Atkinson said. “Now Edmonds is all marina and we have a lot more opportunities to go in another direction.”

The next step for the Futures Project group is to take last week’s comments and apply them to the overall document. The final step is to review all the information gathered and determine the differences between what the likely future holds versus what the community desires.

More information can be found at www.hansville.com and through the updates in the Hansville Log. Questions can be e-mailed to futures@hansville.org. Comments can also be mailed to Futures, P.O. Box 325, Hansville, WA 98340.