The landscape is changing
The landscape is crying
Thousands of acres of forest are dying…
++Coming soon - See full letter on our website https://anewpathforsno.co/#rec425502185
Snohomish County Planning Commission
2024update@snoco.org
Subject: 2024 Update to the SNOCO Comprehensive Plan
URBAN FOREST PROTECTION
Our urban forests are in peril. Below are photos of the Ironwood and Bexley Ridge developments where 20-acre blocks of forest were mowed down, with the County’s approval, with total disregard for urban forests or Priority Habitat & Species (PHS) areas; even Snohomish County Public Works disregards PHS areas. It is common practice for a developer to remove every single significant tree and not leave even one blade of green grass remaining in the developed areas in a development method commonly referred to as scrape and rape.
Urban forests not only help to reduce downstream flooding but also help maintain summer stream base flows for fish and other aquatic organisms in the ecosystem. Urban forests provide cooling islands for the hot summer droughts we have been experiencing.
WDFW has designated critical PHS areas and wildlife corridors, but these areas and corridors for wildlife movement are being wiped out by Snohomish County’s development policies. The Growth Management Act allows Snohomish County to protect PHS areas from development just like it protects wetlands, but it does not. Why doesn’t Snohomish County protect PHS areas? Because under the GMA, PHS area protection is optional, and developers oppose any restrictions on their sprawl developments inside the Urban Growth Area (UGA).
PHS areas must be protected from development just like wetlands are currently protected. Snohomish County must stop subsidizing developers at the expense of our environment.
County code should be revised to:
1. Require that a minimum of 75% of all significant trees as defined under SCC 30.91S.320 remain after any site development or land disturbing activity; and
2. Prohibit all land disturbing activities on land designated by the WDFW as Priority Habitat Species (PHS) areas as allowed under the Growth Management Act.
It should be noted that the Ironwood, Bexley Ridge, and Aravalli developments were all designed by Commissioner Merle Ash’s firm Land Technologies, Inc. Because Mr. Ash’s firm profits from the scrape and rape method of land development, this creates a conflict of interest by Mr. Ash that could embarrass the integrity of the Commission. Therefore Mr. Ash should refrain from any subsequent Commission participation, deliberation or voting on the subject matter, in accordance with Article XI of the Planning Commission’s bylaws.
Below are some examples of urban forest destruction approved by Snohomish County.
Respectfully submitted,
LIDER ENGINEERING, PLLC
William Lider, PE, CESCL
Principal Engineer
cc: Snohomish County Planning Commission Taylor.Twiford@snoco.org
Dave Somers, County Executive county.executive@co.snohomish.wa.us
Snohomish County Council contact.council@snoco.org