Coupeville crowd against Navy Growler expansion

COUPEVILLE – Whidbey Island residents did their best to show the U.S. Navy that it had neither right nor might on its side when 350 people filled the Coupeville High School Performing Arts Center Dec. 19 for a public meeting before the federal agency Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Almost all attendees were in opposition to the Navy’s plan to bring 36 Growler jets to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. The plans the Navy has filed lists 24,100 takeoffs and landings annually at the airfield near Coupeville.

The Navy is one of nine “consulting partners” that since 2014 has been wo...