Developer who cleared hillside making amends
Published 9:00 pm Friday, April 30, 2004
EDMONDS — A developer who clear-cut a steep slope that overlooks Marina Beach Park and violated the city’s approved plans for the site is trying to make amends.
The developer will plant more than 100 conifer trees there and is donating $100,000 to the Edmonds Beach Ranger program and the Edmonds Flower Program to rectify the situation.
"We apologize for wrongfully cutting some alder and maple trees," said Fred Grimm, president of Triad of Seattle, at a news conference Friday. "We were required by the city to follow an arborist’s report that outlined when and how certain trees could be cut as part of a reforestation program. We made a mistake and failed to follow all of his recommendations. We were wrong."
Triad bought 25 acres of the 50-acre Unocal site and plans to build a $65 million condominium project called Point Edwards, with 297 condominiums in 10 buildings that will range from $200,000 to more than $1 million per unit.
Because of the steep slope, the city required Triad to have an arborist review the site. Arborist David Reich found that a number of the trees were infested with root rot. Triad was advised to remove only the trees above the 60-foot level, where the slope wasn’t as steep. Some of the trees on the steeper slope could be thinned, but only if native vegetation was planted and allowed to grow first. Any trees removed would have to be lifted by crane to protect the plantings, according to the plan.
On March 15, city officials were notified that the entire western slope — 150 or so alders and maples — had been cut. The city immediately issued a stop-work order on any further clearing and began charging $100 a day in fines, reaching more than $4,500 to date.
City officials have recently determined there is no cap on how high the fines can go, Duane Bowman, the city’s development services director, said Friday.
"The fines will continue to accrue until the site is fully restored and in compliance" with the arborist’s and hearing examiner’s recommendations, he said.
The developer’s plans for restoration follow new recommendations by Reich, and were approved by the city April 27. Reich’s recommendations include planting Douglas firs, Western red cedars and Sitka spruces, and that the trees not exceed 12 feet in height so that the root systems can get well-established.
"Where the existing maple forest would have started to decline and fall apart within the next decade, and virtually disappear in the next 20 years, the planned conifer forest will stand tall and healthy for the next two or three centuries," Reich wrote in his recommendation report.
Mayor Gary Haakenson said Friday he was pleased that Triad came forward.
"This is a real positive step. The hillside will be in better shape than before," the mayor said.
The issue still will go before the city’s hearing examiner in a public hearing on May 20. The hearing examiner would have 10 days from that date to issue a ruling in which he could recommend nothing be done, require new conditions or revoke the plans altogether.
Reporter Pam Brice: 425-339-3439 or brice@heraldnet.com.
