News archive

Fall 2005

We are hiring a new administrative assistant!  Please click here for a detailed position description. 

Fall, 2004:

The Stewardship Foundation will be starting work this fall on the certification of Lake Forest Park as an official Community Wildlife Habitat. A central part of the certification process involves certification of about 15% of single family dwellings as Backyard Wildlife Habitats (yards providing food, water and shelter for wildlife—we already have close to 100 certified Backyards!). You can register on-line. It takes less than 15 minutes and many LFP residents already have all it takes to be certified.

The City of Lake Forest Park is in the process of revising its next Comprehensive Plan. It is a document that describes the vision for the future of the city, and becomes the basis of the City's environmental protection, land use, human services, and economic development plans, among many of its functions. A series of hearings and town meetings have taken place. For the current draft and the associated maps click here. It is a long document, but the proposed changes from the 1995 version are summarized here. For the letter we submitted to provide input for the January 28, 2003 hearing click here.

October 7: 2003: A Stream Is Born

A babbling brook now meanders down its cobbled 80-foot course in the forested back yard of Rick and Launa Hoy in Lake Forest Park, through a corner of the new Grace Cole Nature Park, before it joins the main channel of Brookside Creek and continues downstream to McAleer Creek. This section of stream, now navigable to salmon and trout, replaced a perched culvert through an earthen dam, which formed a backyard pond. It is one of numerous improvements needed in Lake Forest Park to make all our streams passable to salmon and trout.

The Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation invited neighbors, public officials, volunteers and the professionals who planned and carried out the Brookside Creek restoration, to share in the official opening of the new creek channel on October 3, 2003. Brian Bodenbach, of Biosphere Company, worked from a plan by Arthur Fleming, of HartCrowser, to create this beautiful stream. See photos of the opening ceremony, the Enterprise article about it, or download a movie of the ceremony (movie is in Windows Media Format -- a very large file).

For more information about this, visit our Brookside Creek Restoration Project page.

The Foundation's little book on Lake Forest Park streams, wetlands and parks made a hit. We've had very encouraging comments from local citizens who were surprised and pleased to get a copy of "A Salmon's Guide to Lake Forest Park."

With financial help from the Northwest Fund for the Environment, we mailed a copy to every household in Lake Forest Park. That is, we intended to. If you didn't get a copy, please let us know. We have a few left. (Or, click here for an electronic copy of Salmon's Guide in the Adobe Acrobat format).

The office of Environment Studies for the State Superintendent of Instruction was impressed enough that they're considering paying for reprints so that science teachers throughout the Shoreline School District can use it as a student handbook.

Take a look at the large fold-out map that came with the booklet. We think it's the first of its kind, in that it orients the city of Lake Forest Park by its streams rather than its streets. (The streets are on there, but in subdued type). Our hope is that once people can put a name to the creek they cross on the way to and from work, and know something of its history and the chances of seeing a salmon in its riffles, they become more interested in what happens to it.

We love to have your comments on this and any other Foundation activities.

October, 2002

At our fourth annual meeting, in addition to organizational matters (e.g., reports on our financial health), the vision for the Cole Memorial Nature Preserve and the step-by-step process for making it a reality were presented. Below is a photo from the evening, showing Gordon Orians, a world-renowned biologist, giving us a moving lecture on how the Cole preserve can provide a formative first hand experience of nature for many future generations of citizens.  Click on the photo or here for a higher-resolution, larger photo.

January, 2003

The Stewardship Foundation is seeking to hire a well-qualified person for its Administrative Assistant position. Here is the job announcement and a detailed position description.

August, 2002.
We hosted a booth at the Lake Forest Park Picnic-in-the-Park on July 27, where we displayed a large poster-sized stream map from our Salmon's Guide, such was published with a grant support from the NW Fund for the Environment, and our latest t-shirts, and provided information on protecting the City's streams and wetlands. Here's a photo of our booth.

April, 2002.
Our fourth annual fundraiser auction was a great success. Great food, great music, and of course, great company.  Here are some photos of the event.

The Adopt-A-Stream Foundation (AASF) has received funding from the Washington State Department of Ecology and King County Waterworks to conduct stream surveys in Lake Forest Park. AASF field crews will be evaluating stream crossings to determine if culverts (pipes) are providing proper fish passage for juvenile and adult salmon, and conducting stream assessments to determine current habitat and water quality conditions. AASF staff will also be available to answer questions or provide technical assistance on issues that landowners may have regarding fish passage, water quality, and stream habitat conditions. Click here for more information.

August 16, 2001.

King County Executive Ron Sims today recommended funds for open space purchases to ensure protection of salmon and wildlife habitat, preservation of open spaces and rural forestry and providing recreational and outdoor education opportunities. He is proposing funding for 23 projects including $225,000 for Lake Forest Park's own Grace Cole Memorial Nature Preserve, located at the headwaters of Brookside Creek.

“With the help of a regional citizens' group, we reviewed more than $17 million in requests from King County, the City of Seattle and the suburban cities for $9.6 million in available funds,” said Sims. “We looked at the requests in terms of open space resources, the threat of losing those resources, the timeliness of opportunities presented in the proposals, identified matching funds and the geographic equity in the distribution of the funds. These efforts preserve critical open spaces and contribute to the quality of life in our region.”

For more details, as well as for the full text of the grant application and maps of the proposed Grace Cole Memorial Park, read our press release.

April 28, 2001

Our third annual fundraiser auction was a great success. Great food, great music, and of course, great company.  Click here to see the photos of the event.

Working with the City, we have placed a number of stream signs, urging citizens to be kind to their streams because these streams are "in their care." Read the Enterprise article about it.

April 3, 2001

Hearing Examiner John Galt conditionally approved the amended application for Reasonable Use Exemption (RUE) from the City's sensitive area code, sought by George Petrie. The Examiner concluded that "The proposal put forth here is still not a reasonable one with the least possible impact to the steep slopes," but that it can meet the requirements under a set of conditions set forth in his decision. The conditions include the requirement that the house's footprint be less than 2,500 square feet, and no surface water runoff from any source be discharged or allowed to run over the face of the lower, eastern slope. For more details, read the April 3 decision by the Hearing Examiner.

Earlier, last December, Hearing Examiner John Galt denied the Mr. Petrie's original request for Reasonable Use Exemption (RUE) from the City's sensitive area code to build a 6 bedroom, 6000 square ft. footprint house. The decision validated the Foundation's long-held belief that the headwaters of Brookside Creek (in which the proposal seeks development) provides a critical environmental function for the entire watershed, and that the alteration to the sensitive area or associated buffer proposed in this application was well beyond the minimum necessary to allow for reasonable use of the property. Here is the text of our position on the Petrie development proposal, presented for the hearing that took place on December 14, 2000, and the December 26 decision by the Hearing Examiner.

December 26, 2000

On December 26, Hearing Examiner John Galt denied the Reasonable Use Exemption (RUE) from the City's sensitive area code, sought by George Petrie, to build a 6 bedroom, 6000 square ft. footprint house. The decision validates the Foundation's long-held belief that the headwaters of Brookside Creek (in which the proposal seeks development) provides a critical environmental function for the entire watershed, and that the alteration to the sensitive area or associated buffer proposed in this application was well beyond the minimum necessary to allow for reasonable use of the property.

Here is the text of our position on the Petrie development proposal, presented for the hearing that took place on December 14, 2000, and the December 26 decision by the Hearing Examiner.

On October 11, 2000, the Washington State Superior Court made a ruling on our appeal of the Board of Adjustment's decision to grant exemptions from the City's environmental code to allow building three houses in stream and wetland buffers and a septic field in an eroding slope above the wetlands. Read our news release to find out the outcome! 

The Lake Forest Park City Council has voted to put a proposition on the November 7th ballot giving citizens the opportunity to vote for a bond for the acquisition, development and preservation of parks and open space in our City. Click here for the text of Proposition 1, and read relevant articles from the Seattle Times and City's web site.

September 11, 2000

We are appealing the Board of Adjustment decision to grant exemptions from the City's environmental code to allow building three houses in stream and wetland buffers and a septic field in an eroding slope above the wetlands. The date of our Superior Court hearing is September 11, 2000. 

August 31, 2000

The Lake Forest Park City Council has voted to put a proposition on the November 7th ballot giving citizens the opportunity to vote for a bond for the acquisition, development and preservation of parks and open space in our
City. Click here for the text of Proposition 1.

July 29-30th, 2000

We hosted a booth at the Lake Forest Park Picnic-in-the-Park on July 29-30, where we displayed the Foundation's stream signs and t-shirts, and provided information on protecting the City's wetlands. See the photo of our booth, taken by Gayle Sackett.

April 16, 2000

Our latest newsletter is available. Read about our work during the past year, our plans for the coming year, as well as the latest news about important issues and developments in LFP.

Also, check out Seattle's "Creek Week 2000" celebration, Thornton Creek Celebration on Saturday, April 22, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., as well as the "Creekstock!" special entertainment and educational event, in West Seattle on April 15.

There is an article in Metropolitan Living April issue by Craig Romano about citizens, activists, environmentalists and government agencies working together to restore Seattle's urban creeks.

Today's Seattle Times' Pacific Northwest Magazine has an article by William Dietrich, titled Stream Salvation (text only, the original has photos and maps).

Read related articles about life in the streams, and information about Urban Creek Week that's under way.

April 2, 2000

The Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation is holding its Second Annual wine tasting fundraiser on Saturday, April 29th, from 7:00 to 9:30 pm, at the LFP Civic Club.  Tasty appetizers and delicious desserts will complement award-winning Washington state and European wines.  Talented local musicians perform throughout the evening.  Auction items will include merchandise, certificates, entertainment packages, parties, golf lessons, specialty gift baskets, art work, and much more.  

Tickets for this event are $35 and may be obtained by calling the Foundation at 206-361-7076 and at the door.  The non-profit Foundation's goal is to help preserve the extraordinary natural environment of Lake Forest Park.  Proceeds from this fundraiser will go toward interpretive signage and landscaping in the City's newest park, Phingst Park, also known as Animal Acres.  

Contact Carol Dahl at 206-362-1388 or dahlcv@juno.com.

March 15, 2000

The B of A tonight approved final findings and conclusions regarding its decision to approve Mr. Hill's request for exemptions from the City's environmental code. City Planner Ty Peterson says the document will be ready late tomorrow or early Friday, to allow time to clean up the typos and make minor amendments which they voted on tonight. But the 21-day period to appeal the decision to the King County Superior Court will start tomorrow (16th). We are now concentrating our effort on preparing for it.

March 14, 2000

We had our annual meeting. A great way to take stock of our accomplishments over the past year with our members, and look to the work ahead of us. We'll post the meeting agenda, etc. here, but as of today (3/15), we have an urgent matter to deal with (see above!), so please hold on...

February 29, 2000

Seattle PI published a letter to the editor, following up on their Feb. 2 article about us.

February 20, 2000

The Lake Forest Park Board of Adjustment still has not issued its written "Findings and Conclusions". It is scheduled to do so on March 1, 2000. As soon as it does, the 21-day period for appealing its decision to the King County Superior Court begins. We are currently preparing for such an appeal, which is the only recourse allowed for decisions by the Board of Adjustment. The current LFP land use process circumvents all elected officials in Lake Forest Park. Please note: We would not be "suing" our City, but appealing an administrative decision in the only way allowed. We are doing so in order to preserve the vision of the City's founders, and to reflect the opinions of the majority of the LFP citizens and to help protect their rights and well-being. This is an important distinction that needs to be made when talking this over with friends and neighbors.

As a condition of the exemption from the LFP environmental code, the Board of Adjustment requires that the City request the Department of Ecology to review and confirm the wetland delineations performed by the developer's consultants and accepted by the City's Planning Department. Wetland experts contacted by the Foundation have serious concerns about the accuracy of the delineations, as reported in the Seattle P-I article, and also in our "issues and information about the Hill Proposal" page. As of now, the request does not appear to be filed yet. In the meantime, we have learned that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seems likely to do its own wetland delineation.

Remember our annual meeting, March 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room across from the Lake Forest Park library, below Third Place Books. There'll be a multi-media presentation, election of officers, refreshments, door prizes and a chance to pick up your salmon poster.

We're getting short on money. Keeping in touch with our members is expensive. Appeals to Superior Court are enormously so. If you've put off joining or renewing your membership in the Stewardship Foundation, we urgently need you to do so. And if you can see your way clear to give us extra help, financially or in volunteer hours, we'll be more than grateful. Please contact us at info@lfpsf.org.

We know we'll find a way to defend the City's sensitive areas ordinances and prevent ruination of our beautiful wetlands and stream systems. We're not sure how, but we know we'll do it.

February 2, 2000.

We're in the news! Check out this Seattle P-I article, titled "Defenders of Lake Forest Park Wetland Unite"!

January 12, 2000, 11:00 PM

Tonight, in City Council Chambers, the Board of Adjustment discussed and voted on the Hill request for reasonable use exemption. Dale Galvin and George Gelderman voted to approve it; Linda Collier and Mary Ortega voted against it, and Chair Tim Davis cast cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the proposal. The Board conditioned its approval on a couple of minor requirements (5 vs. 3 years of bonding; adding specific language prohibiting damaging the buffers, to be recorded in the title), and a requirement for the City to request the Department of Ecology to "review and confirm" the wetland delineation prepared by the Hills' wetland delineator, B & A Inc. If the result differs significantly from B & A's, the Hills' proposal will be reviewed by the Board once again.

We were disappointed with the outcome, but we view this as simply a first step in the continuing effort to protect the natural environment of the City. We are considering a variety of options for an appeal of this decision and the City planner's SEPA determination, which the Board voted to uphold on Nov 17, 1999.

We will continue to keep you informed. We videotaped the proceedings this evening. Anyone who wishes to view the tape, please contact the Foundation at info@lfpsf.org.

Thank you for your support.

January 12, 2000, 1:00 PM

Last week, we submitted our rebuttal of Mr. Stephens arguments (see below), as well as an additional letter by our attorney, Claudia Newman.

Tonight the Board of Adjustment will make a decision on the Hill proposal, in a hearing that will begin at 7PM, in the LFP City Council Chambers, located in the Police building at the NW corner of the Town Center shopping center. See you all there!

December 31, 1999

Here is the letter that Mr. Hill's attorney, Richard Stephens, submitted, summarizing his argument that the City must grant exemption from its environmental regulations so that Mr. Hill can encroach the wetlands and stream buffers. We must submit our rebuttal by January 5. Please let us know if you have any suggestions by sending us email at info@lfpsf.org.

December 29, 1999

In response to the Board's request, today we submitted our final summary of all the letters and testimony, showing how all the issues raised and all the information brought to light during the hearing process relate to the criteria specified in the LFP Municipal Code in order to grant exemption from the sensitive area regulations. During the next week, those who are in favor and opposed will review each others' material, and prepare a rebuttal by January 5th. We encourage anyone interested to go to the City Hall to read these and all other documents that are part of the public record. The Board then will spend a week absorbing all the material and make their decision at the open meeting on January 12th. 

Thanks again for all your support. It has been a pleasure working with you, and we look forward to continuing our efforts.

Happy 2000!

December 10, 1999

This past Wednesday, 12/8, at City Council Chambers, the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation presented expert testimony to the Board of Adjustment regarding the Hill property development. Once again, the hearing ran late, until 12:30 am, and there was another full house.

And once again, the Board postponed their decision.  The Foundation and Mr. Hill were asked to prepare and submit final written statements due by December 29th. We will then have until January 5th to submit rebuttals. The Board of Adjustment has committed to read all the materials submitted and to make a decision at their regularly scheduled meeting on January 12th at 7:00 pm, which is open to the public.  So for the next two weeks, we will be concentrating on putting together our final documentation.

In the meantime, we would like to thank all who have rallied to make the many voices of concerned citizens and scientists heard.  Without your help, it simply would not have been possible to present as strong a case as we believe we have been able to do.  Your generous support and encouragement gave us the energy necessary to carry out the work required to prepare for this process.

We would like to express our particular thanks to the experts represented at the hearing, either in person or by written testimony (more or less in order of appearance):

Legal issues:

Wetlands:

Streams and salmon habitat:

Slope stability and geology of septic site:

Drainage and flood plain:

Following the Foundation's formal presentation, many individuals from the community spoke, including Dr. David Peterson, Professor of Ecosystem Sciences, College of Forest Resources at the University of Washington, who spoke on the impact of urbanization on the ecosystem, urging utmost caution. In addition, two members of Trout Unlimited conveyed their local chapter's unanimous support of the Foundation's mission and pledged resources for future restoration of Brooskside Creek.

We are committed to doing what we can now and over the long haul.  We look forward to working with the Lake Forest Park community to protect what makes our City unique.

We encourage you to attend the Board of Adjustment hearing on the Hill property development on Wednesday, January 12th, at 7:00 pm, to learn the final outcome of the Request for Reasonable Use Variance.  The hearing will take place at City Council Chambers, Lake Forest Park Towne Centre.

If you'd like to know more about this issue, or have relevant information, please send email to info@lfpsf.org. 

Please click here for more information about this proposed development, as well as the issues it raises.

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November 19, 1999

Hill Property Hearings UPDATE 

There were two hearings Wednesday evening (Nov 17). The first, which started at 6, was in response to the appeal that the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation filed, requesting that the City to reconsider its State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) determination that no Environmental Impact Statement was necessary for the Hill proposal. The Board of Adjustment (BOA) voted 2 in favor and 3 against the appeal.

This was followed by an open hearing for testimony on the Hill proposal requesting Reasonable Use Exemption from the City's environmentally sensitive area requirements. Three people spoke in favor of granting the exemption. This was followed by testimony after testimony from people opposed to Mr. Hill's proposal, continuing past midnight. It was clear that this was not a group of neighbors against someone building in their backyard, but rather, people from all over LFP, and from other cities, who were there because they were concerned about the environment. It was a fitting occasion for LFP, which was initially incorporated "because a wetland was filled in. The citizens who organized the incorporation wanted to insure that our environment was protected. Citizens over our history developed a set of shared values which we have woven into our city's life and planning." (LFP Enterprise, Nov. 10, 1999, p.13).

In light of this, the Board decided to extend the hearing process and will reconvene on Wednesday, December 8th, at 7:00 pm at the City Council Chambers (next to the LFP Police station at the Towne Center). The Foundation encourages anyone who is concerned about the development of one of the few remaining wetland areas in LFP to discuss this with friends and neighbors, to attend the next hearing, and make their voices heard.  The record is still open.  If you cannot attend the hearing, it is not too late to write to the Board of Adjustment c/o the Planning Department about your concerns (The City of LFP Planning Dept, 17711 Ballinger Way NE, LFP, WA 98155). 

In the meantime, the Foundation is working to obtain full expert analyses of the environmental impact of the proposed development and its ramifications for LFP. Many individuals testified, providing information that contradicted the basis of the argument presented by Mr. Hill for the exemption from the environmental regulations. For example, several people testified that salmon used to spawn in Brookside Creek, that the extent and location of the wetlands indicated in the application may not be accurate, and that the location of the septic field (between the pond and the "sand pit") may be on unstable land. The Board, however, believed that they needed to see full expert analyses of these issues. Many such analyses require a site visit and testing by experts, both of which would require Mr. Hill's consent.

Nov 1, 1999

Public Hearing about the Hill proposal on November 17

We hope you'll make it to the public hearing Nov. 17 on the request of Mr. Rob Hill for an exemption from the Lake Forest Park Sensitive Areas Code. Mr. Hill wants variance in order to build four houses on his property containing the wetland at the headwaters of Brookside Creek, a known salmon habitat. The Stewardship Foundation is formally opposing the exemption, and has challenged the City's decision not to require an Environmental Impact Statement. Come and speak out concerning the development of the largest remaining wetland in LFP. If you can't be there in person, please write and express your feelings to the Board of Adjustment, c/o Ty Peterson, Planning Director, City of Lake Forest Park, 17711 Ballinger Way, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155. Even if you've missed the Nov 5. deadline for your letter to be considered by the City staff in their recommendation to the Board of Adjustment, the Board itself accepts letters if they are delivered by 5:00 pm on Nov. 17. The public notice from the City states that at this point, "it is likely that the planning department will recommend approval of the reasonable use exemption request with conditions." If you disagree with this recommendation, the time to act is now.

The hearing will begin at 8:00 PM in the City Council chambers, located in the building that houses the LFP Police Dept., at the Towne Center.

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