7/17/07, CAMWEST mowed down all buildable Perrigo forest land

This OPINION was written in obvious anger from the acute episode of urban forest removal. Though the Camwest landowner has constitutional rights to do develop their land as seen fit the whole community agonized over the process. Many comments were submitted to my old Yahoo blog but not recorded. I was intensely invested in the process, starting with the serious lack of Public Notice the public was given. With regret, my bitterness shows. 01/2008

CAMWEST DEVELOPMENT, INC. of Kirkland, WA. mowed down about 1/3 of the Perrigo Heights woodlands Friday afternoon. Most of it the rest of it was removed by Saturday. CAMWEST has contracted with International Construction, Inc. and other contractors to do the "dirty work" for them. They don't want their "good name" associated with this project.  Already, a few citizens are leaving flowers and photos along the trail.

What I immediately sensed in the woods at 5:30pm was unusual brightness. It is now most apparent, the trail, riparian creek and Hartman wetlands receive southern exposure. Without shade from the canopy the wetlands will dry -- faster than naturally. Bring your sunhat and sunglasses. The atmosphere is totally different now on the creek, wetland trail. You will also hear birds seeking refuge in the riparian wetlands.

05/2007 - Active landslide on Perrigo Heights

2007 was the year I started my blog

"Landslides Threaten Big Trees, Sewer Alignment at Perrigo Heights" - by Susan Wilkins, Redmond, WA.

Preface: The initial geotechnical engineering report on Perrigo Heights was done in 1997. It's possible that the slope along the access road where the slides are now occurring was much more stable back then. At that time, the report stated that the whole property was stable. That was 10 years ago. Since then, time, gravity and severe weather have destabilized the north side of the property and it is sliding and unstable. This article and photograph are simply pointing this out.

A series of landslides along the access road on the south side of Perrigo Creek has toppled a number of trees and has left a majestic big-leaf maple precariously leaning with its roots exposed on the steep hillside. The tree sits on what is called a bench slide, a whole piece of the hill that is moving down-slope as a unit. It’s an historic slide that has been occurring slowly for years. It probably started years ago when the City of Redmond cut into the hillside when it built the access road that runs along the south side of the creek. The effects of gravity and the heavy rains this past year has caused the soil under the roots to break up and collapse. The landslide begins at the top of the slope where caving with the classic “scooped out” appearance can be seen on the relatively horizontal section of the hill where the proposed sewer line for the planned Camwest Perrigo Heights Development will run. In some places, the sewer line boundary will be within 15 feet of the top of the collapse.

4/23/07, Cougar sighting - or was it a Bobcat?!

Is this a picture of a cougar or a bobcat?

From: Eric O'Neal Date: April 23, 2007 1:55:22 PM

Subject: Cougar Sighting Good Afternoon-

I wanted to get out some information regarding a cougar sighting near Hartman Park. Apparently a resident of the Lookout Ridge development, just south of Hartman Park, spotted a cougar in the greenbelt next to their house. The Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Redmond Police Department have been notified and are aware of the situation.

Please pass along the information regarding this reported cougar sighting to coaches and parents so they can make wise choices regarding the safety of their children and pets while in the area.

Thanks, Eric O'Neal City of Redmond Park Maintenance Supervisor

answer - bobcat

1/23/07, Developer defends leveling trees

On January 24 the second stand of majestic poplar trees on Camwest "Tyler Creek" property came crashing down. The bordering East Valley Heights neighborhood is furious. A promise had been broken.

Neighborhood leaders insist their community was repeatedly told by the city and Camwest "how lucky they were to be working with such a generous builder...who had made concessions to keep the Poplar trees along the border or E. Valley Heights & Tyler Creek." Not only did the trees provide a nostalgic reminder of the old farm but the trees assist drainage.

According to Camwest, their decision about how to manage the Poplars would be based on the final lot configuration. They made no promises to the community to save the trees during the public review process, though some neighbors couldn't remember.

WHY didn't the city clarify the conditional intentions? WHY didn't the city respond directly to these neighbors when project planning was underway?

Council President McCormick's after-the-fact response was a commiserating tactic of "feel, felt, found". McCormick's findings? The Constitution -- allowing property owners to use their property -- is "the culprit". Not so sure about that! The problem is the city. The city gives "permission" i.e. PERMITS to use the land according to city standards and values. In this case, the city has no standard of conduct. Most unfortunate.

In the least, the city should require one new tree be planted for every fallen tree. More critical - these Poplars were healthy and not a hazard to the community. Camwest removed them primarily because they were "unsightly" and didn't fit with the project entryway.

The City development department is partly responsible for 'trashing' our neighborhood culture. "Together we make a community of good neighbors?" Remember Mayor Ives motto?

[Harkness,McCormick,& emails archived in the Government Email Group on the front page] 1/29/2007

1/23/07, Redmond Ranked Tops for Kids!

This is a picture I took of children on Perrigo Springs Woodland Trail, during the "Friends of Redmond Woodlands", FORW fundraiser. Children in Redmond, WA. are lucky! Really lucky.

Lori Snodgrass, Parks Board member, gave us the heads-up; then yesterday morning Q13 FOX TV announced from Marymoor Park some very exciting news: Redmond is ranked in the nation's TOP 100 "Best Communities for Young People" by "America's Promise Alliance". Out of 750 other schools applying, Redmond was specifically selected for it's array of safe and fun after-school activities.

The America's Promise Alliance was founded in 2005 by Colin L. Powell. City selections were made by over 50 Alliance members, including: U.S. Conference of Mayors, and Big Brothers/Sisters. Tim Russert of Meet the Press, Brian Gallagher the United Way President, and Tom Donohue of the US Commerce are a few of the decision-makers.

So how is Redmond so special in providing an array of safe and fun after-school activities? I've brainstormed a few from parenting my 14 year old daughter and 7 years of "Lunch Buddy" mentoring. Here goes:

See the kids running along the Perrigo Woodland trail in the photo? No question it's safer and more fun commuting to school on this trail than taking a bus. Redmond is loaded with neighborhood trail connections. Ann Glassy, administrator of the Lunch Buddy Mentoring Program at Mann, directs kids to the Redmond El Neighborhood Program for afterschool enrichment. The Redmond Old Fire House provides after school activities for teenagers aged 13-19. An Eastside Services Counselor is available at the Fire House for high risk kids needing help on teen issues. 425-810-4083. youtheastsideservices.org The Outdoor Skateboard Park and Perrigo Dirt Bike Course keeps kids off the roads and having fun. Explorers 16 years and older are recruited to help the police on safety issues. & Sports - on lit fields with artificial turf in Redmond's Hartman, Grasslawn, & Perrigo city parks -- all well maintained and 'safe'. Redmond Recreation Guide! http://redmond.gov/insidecityhall/parksrecGuide/guide.asp
America's Promise Alliance has shown that to succeed in life, young people must experience at least four of the Five Promises -- 1) caring adults, 2) safe places, 3) a healthy start, 4) effective education, 5) opportunities to help others. Less than 1 in 3 young people in the nation receive enough of these promises.

Aren't we lucky! 1/23/07