Open Letter to Edmonds City Council and Mayor Nelson:
I am writing about the upcoming votes on the Perrinville Woods. I encourage you to vote NO on both the street vacation and the street map amendment. It is not in the public interest to further the development of the Perrinville Woods.
This issue here is the Perrinville Woods. There are over 200 significant conifer trees up there. There are two steep ravines that run through there. There are two ponds. It is right above the already stressed Perrinville Creek. There are a couple old abandoned houses on otherwise untouched five acres of land. It is the very definition of an environmentally “critical area.”
There is a reason that land has not been developed. It would require extensive excavation to achieve 14 buildable sites. The sediment runoff and the storm water runoff, from the loss of hundreds of large trees, would be environmentally detrimental to the watershed below. A watershed for which we are responsible to maintain.
How is it in the public interest to destroy the last major pocket forest in Edmonds (excepting parks) for 14 luxury homes? Those homes will not help diversify our housing options.
In fact, the Perrinville Woods should never be developed. It is the last of its kind in Edmonds. It should be preserved forever. It should be acquired and made into a park; The Perrinville Woods Preserve.
I hope the City of Edmonds can come together to Save the Perrinville Woods! We should apply for low interest loans from the Forterra Land Conservancy. We should seek matching grants from local preservation groups. We should create a local Edmonds Land Trust so that individuals and businesses can contribute to saving the Perrinville Woods.
We won’t be remembered if we lose the Perrinville Woods for yet another housing development. Don’t let these woods be destroyed. Let’s protect Perrinville Creek. Let’s be remembered as the community that came together to create a lasting legacy.
Come on City Council. Come on Mayor Nelson. Come on Parks Department. Come on citizens of Edmonds. Let’s do something great together. Let’s do something we can be proud of. Let us create the The Perrinville Woods Preserve.
Let us Save the Perrinville Woods!
Thank you.
Bill Phipps
Edmonds
For all of the reasons expressed in Bill Phipps’ letter, I applaud his recommendation that Perrinville Woods be protected by the creation of a “Perrinville Woods Preserve.”
If you are familiar with the Woodway Reserve in the town of Woodway just south of Edmonds, you can relate to the possibilities to protect the terrain, the wildlife, birds, trees, and the countless species of tiny organisms that thrive in that sanctuary.
Please add your voice to the many others who seek to create a protected area. What a treasure a Perrinville Woods Preserve would be to make our extraordinary city and environs even more so for this and future generations who will need all of the benefits that a natural place can provide.
Perrinville Woods Reserve is a wonderful idea-
Nurturing nature, families, and maintaining our forest canopy. All are critical to our future. Let’s figure out a way to do it!!
Yes I absolutely support the Perrinville woods preserve to have this area gobbled up by yet another housing development is sad .We have to preserve these natural areas for generations to enjoy they are becoming scarce
Bill and Rebecca ~ please advise your Edmonds neighbors any action we can take here. I’m not familiar with city planning and politics absolutely agree with your statements and the importance of preserving Perronville Woods.
~ Annie Jacobsen
Annie,
Thanks for asking! This is on Council agenda for Nov. 17, so write TODAY, or at latest tomorrow, to both of these emails:
Council@edmondswa.gov
Publiccomment@edmondswa.gov
In your email, reference item:
7. 1. Public Hearing on 184th St SW Street Vacation and Official Street Map Change (30 min)
State that you want Council to DENY both the street vacation and the official street map change, state your reasons. It can be short.
The first goes directly to all Council members. The second will ensure that your entire comment becomes part of the public record.
The more emails Council gets, the more chance they will listen.
Two well crafted letters today urging preservation of some critical Edmonds urban forest land. I totally agree with this approach to the issue of tree preservation and conservation locally.
I urge the Mayor and Council to go lightly in the area of using city code and ordinances to try to enforce tree preservation. Do we really want city planners running around on private property measuring tree girths? Much less all the permits, fees and fines that go along with such an approach?
It should be remembered that deforestation is not a recent occurrence or something that can be mitigated with “emergency” litigation. Land conservation and protection of critical areas is the right approach here.
I agree vote”NO” and I appreciate the knowledgeable comments made above by Rebecca, Christine, Annie and Clint!!
Thank you!
Amen to the earlier comments and Sharon’s! Edmonds and surrounding areas are blessed with woodlands…disappearing in far too much of our communities and, once gone, not to be recovered.
Add our NO vote to the plan to develop this land.
I agree with the previous letters asking for a “NO” vote on the proposed street vacation and street map amendment at Tuesday night’s meeting. We should protect the Perrinville Woods for our children and grandchildren, not only as an important natural space but also because these trees are specialists in carbon sequestration. My understanding is that the City considered purchasing the land some time ago, but ultimately did not buy the Woods. I suggest that we follow Bill Phipps’ advice above and form a Public-Private Partnership and work with the City of Edmonds to buy Perrinville Woods and invite citizens to contribute to an Edmonds Land Trust fund which will then be used for the purchase. We could seek a loan from the Forterra Land Conservancy until we raise enough to purchase the Woods outright. We are losing opportunities to save these community treasures and will not be able to explain to our children and grandchildren why we neglected to act when we could.
I have lived in Edmonds for over 30 years. I begged the city to require a developer to save some/any trees on an acre plot across the street from us where hundreds of full grown firs and other native plants grew many years ago- it was clear cut. 13 trees went down a year ago, 7 a month ago and those were the one within a block of my home. I have seen hundreds in the surrounding area. Global warming is real and we need to do our part for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren. Please save those trees. Building can be done in a sensitive manner, but unfortunately most builders just clear cut no matter! I would love to see the city start on an active and vigorous planting campaign. There are many area to be planted- think of the large grass area entering Edmonds from the south! Please vote “No” and please let’s start reversing the global damage!
Mona,
Your experience with the devastating impacts of deforestation in your own neighborhood speaks volumes. I am grateful to you for understanding how our actions now will affect our children and future generations. We need your voice and many more to speak out because political forces do not agree that “Trees Have Standing” in the law. We must be the ones to speak for them. Here’s a book that looks interesting: _Should Trees Have Standing?: Law, Morality, and the Environment_ (by Christopher D. Stone | Apr 7, 2010).
I support the Perrinville Woods Preserve. I urge our Mayor and Council to consider the long term affects on our environment and our community.
Please add my name to those who oppose the development in Perrinville Woods. There are few
opportunities left to preserve woods like this in Edmonds. Let’s plan smarter and find other ways
to increase housing.
Well said all of the above writers….Edmonds is getting overbuilt…..we have the parks, but the downtown is almost solid restaurants, and we are all squished along the Marina if we want to walk somewhere besides the Public Parks.
England has a land Trust…..that is why there are still beautiful places to visit even though they are a small country…
Vote no please.
I support the Perrinville Woods Preserve. I urge our Mayor and Council to consider the long term affects on our environment and our community.
I moved to the Perrinville area in 1970. I lived there for 35 years, and then moved to the bowl, and now live on Shell Creek. One of the reasons we chose Perrinville was the trees and the rustic feel of the area.
I also would like to see a no vote on the destruction of the Perrinville Woods to the detriment of all, and to the benefit of a few.
So, to the city council, I say please maintain the Woods and maybe start a restoration project of the Perrinville Creek.
We have to remember that protecting the Perrinville woods is a multi-step process. All that our city council can do for now is refuse to give away the easements requested by the developer. That is an important first step, and what the council needs to hear about from you now.
Then we need to look at city codes and regulations that allow the current destruction of trees in the name of development. The tree code is currently being revised and there will be a hearing on that soon. The important ideas about saving trees expressed here will be extremely relevant in the tree code revision process.
I’m proud to live in a community that cares about the environment.
Well said, Marjie. You are right on. I also am proud to be a part of this environmentally conscious community.
I support the proposal to preserve the Perrinville Woods . We need more trees, not more pavement and 14 more houses.
Well it’s a mess city lost out it is private land it is a mess drug addicts trash ponds are only there after a big rain this is across the street from my house build away .
I presented a letter to the city council at the last meeting which I will attach the link here. Please read my letter. I am deeply concerned as to the erosion control as a result of cutting down trees. The Perrinville Creek Watershed is at its maximum. Please read my letter. Thank you, respectfully submitted. I love my city too much to not say anything. Marni Muir – please vote NO!/Users/marnimuir/Desktop/CITY OF EDMONDS – PERRINVILLE PROJECT.docx
Perrinville Woods Preserve is a great idea! You have my full support!
They had the chance to buy it and did not it is private land and has been for 5 years .The city chose to not buy it and should city government get involved no because they made that choice .
I support the creation of. Perrinville Forrest Preserve for all the good reasons Bill explained! We don’t need more houses which along with the Townhouse development in progress next to the shopping center will bring more traffic and pollution to the area.
Please do keep the Perrinville Forest Preserve and do not allow the building of homes a/o other facilities in their place. Thanks much.