Check out these recently published letters to the editor written by Horseman’s Trail neighbors!
Seattle Times
May 30, 2007: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003726447_snolets30e.html
Everett Herald
May 22, 2007: http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/07/05/22/100let_20070522006.cfm
May 28, 2007: http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/07/05/28/100let_20070528002.cfm
Mukilteo Beacon
May 30, 2007
Joan Smith: BrokenProcess
Patrick Ford: PatrickFord
Hello Horseman’s Trail Neighbors!
Snohomish County has finally decided to require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Horseman’s Trail; however the EIS that they are currently requiring is not a full EIS, despite requests from hundreds of local residents for a full EIS. It is very limited in scope. Snohomish County has identified only one area for discussion in the EIS: “EARTH – Grading in the amount of 285,000 cubic yards of cut and fills in a steeply sloped area adjacent to existing residences.”
We urge you to send a letter or email to Bob Pemberton requesting that the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement for Horseman’s Trail be expanded to include other critical issues, for example the effect of the proposed 116-home subdivision on Picnic Point Creek, a salmon-bearing stream that is in danger of losing its salmon population, and the impact of adding 1,100 plus car trips on our already crowded narrow roads. We have included some sample text below for your use. Please use your own words or cut and paste selected text into a new email or letter and send it to Bob Pemberton @ Snohomish County.
The deadline for written comments is May 30, 2007.
Snohomish County Planning and Development Services
Attention: Bob Pemberton
3000 Rockefeller Avenue
Everett, WA 98201
Email: robert.pemberton@co.snohomish.wa.us
Bob Pemberton’s fax: 425-388-3872
Bob Pemberton’s phone: 425-388-3311, ext. 2764
Thank you for helping to save our neighborhood and our environment!
SAMPLE TEXT FOR LETTER:
Dear Mr. Pemberton,
I understand that the Environmental Impact Statement for Horseman’s Trail is very limited in scope and only addresses one issue: grading. I request that the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement for Horseman’s Trail be expanded to include the following areas for analysis: natural environment, transportation, and public services and utilities.
Picnic Point Creek flows directly into Puget Sound and is a salmon-bearing stream. It needs to be protected from surface runoff, sedimentation, and other development hazards. Horseman’s Trail is surrounded by Native Growth Protection Areas and a designated wetland. How will these be affected by the clear cutting of 19 acres of trees? The road capacity of 60th Ave W and Picnic Point Road needs to be further studied. There are few sidewalks on Picnic Point Road and there are two elementary schools located on the road to Horseman’s Trail. How will an additional 1100+ car trips on local roads affect traffic and safety during rush hour and drop-off and pick-up times at the two elementary schools? How will the current congestion at the intersection of Picnic Point Road and Beverly Park Road during rush hour be addressed? There are limited bike lanes and no transit facilities nearby. There is currently a sewer moratorium in the area. All of these issues need to be discussed in the EIS.
Thank you for considering my comments. I wish to be a “party of record” for Horseman’s Trail.
Sincerely, Your name and address and your email address (optional)
Reforestation vs. Deforestation
Editor,
Seattle is spending more than $114 million to plant 649,000 trees over the next three decades, and the city of Boston is planting 100,000 trees, increasing its current tree population by 20 percent.
What is Snohomish County doing to preserve our urban forests? In the case of Horseman’s Trail, nothing.
The county is requiring a very limited Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a development that will clear cut 19 acres of old growth forest (trees that absorb the greenhouse gases which cause global warming), and ignoring neighboring wetlands, a salmon-bearing stream (Picnic Point Creek), traffic on our already overcrowded roads due to ambitious development in the area, etc.
The ONLY issue being addressed in the EIS is grading.
The county needs to hear from us in order to expand the scope of the EIS for Horseman’s Trail.
Please send your letters to Robert Pemberton.
Thank you.
Julie Meghji
Edmonds, WA
The Lake Stickney Improvement Association won its one year long appeal on the Wood Lock development in January 2007. With 3 days of hearings, and expert presentations they prevailed. We will too!
As of January 10th the developer has submitted final plans to the county. We need to be prepared to appeal if this project is not deemed “significant” and therefore does not require an Environmental Impact Statement. The county rarely issues a determination of significance, it usually happens on appeal.
We have hired an attorney and are in the process of hiring professionals to help us during our appeal. As part of the appeal we need these experts to evaluate the plans and ensure that an Environmental Impact Statement is required of the developer if that land should require it.