SHORELINE — It is usually best to start from the beginning, but an exception can be made at a public hearing regarding updating the city’s Comprehensive Plan, on Jan. 10.
In this instance, fast-forwarding and then rewinding provides a clearer picture.
After almost 30 members of the community passionately addressed the Shoreline City Council raising concerns about issues including Fircrest School, sidewalks, cottage housing, funding and the environment, one of the final speakers was asked to step away from the podium.
“Who came to you and asked you to ruin our environment?” local resident Tim Crawford asked loudly. Crawford got several more sentences out before council members asked him to stop and leave the meeting.
Mayor Ron Hansen called for Police Chief Tony Burtt to escort Crawford from the room, who was now sitting down and refusing to leave. Vocal support from others in the audience, along with Crawford’s refusal, led Council member Paul Grace to call for an adjournment.
The Council agreed and will continue the hearing on Jan. 18. Monday’s hearing itself was a continuation of a Dec. 13 public hearing, and in addition to covering the Comprehensive Plan update, the hearing included the city’s first Transportation, Surface Water and Parks, Recreation and Open Space master plans.
According to city documents, the city began updating the Comprehensive Plan in 2003 and at the same time, began working to adopt the city’s first master plans, focusing on transportation, surface water and parks, recreation and open space.
Resident Janet Way, representing the Sno-King Environmental Council and Thornton Creek Legal Defense Fund, said the Comprehensive Plan contains wording that is vague and allows for multiple interpretations by city staff.
“This waters down goals and policies and includes the word ‘practicable,’” Way said. “When you use those words, they don’t require the city to do anything.”
Way said the original Comprehensive Plan was “sliced and diced” and additional time is needed to improve the plan.
Virginia Paulsen told the Council she was displeased that in the Comprehensive Plan, 57 percent of the budget is based on grants. She said the city is not being financially responsible with tax payers’ money.
“The documents are alarming, 57 percent is based on grants,” Paulsen said. “I know how risky it is getting grants, getting grants is no sure thing.”
Alan Sharrah, director of operations at Frank Lumber Co., said he and others have been trying to make sense of the Comprehensive Plan, and have finally realized it was designed as a tax-increase plan.
Sharrah said there will be an 8.8 percent increase in surface water management fees in one year, which totals a 32 percent increase in six years. He felt the city is committed to tax increases in order to obtain additional funding, which will be difficult for many citizens to afford.
“A lot of people in the city live on fixed incomes,” Sharrah said. “Please, do not overtax citizens and business owners.”
Kristin Ellison-Oslin, chaplain at the Fircrest Chapel, said the parks plan included information regarding median household incomes, but did not include information regarding residents who earn less than $50,000 a year.
“There is no mention of the people who need to be served,” Ellison-Oslin said. “I serve the least, the poorest, but some of the most powerful, spiritual people.”
Donn Charnley said the title “Comprehensive Plan” should be changed to “narrow, restrictive or sporadic.” The wording in the plan is not consistent with environmental guidelines, he said, and he agonizes over the loss of wetlands and the cutting of trees.
“I urge you, please let’s go back and write this thing property,” said Charnley, a former state legislator.
David Fagerstrom urged the council to have standards for quality, especially regarding the recent cottage housing moratorium. He said low-income housing does not necessarily need to be made with expensive materials.
“We need to explore other modes of housing besides cottage housing,” Fagerstrom said.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
