For two consecutive Tuesdays in a row the city of Arlington has set public hearing dates for the proposed Airpark Industries development; the one that will bring 40 acres of wrecked cars into south Arlington. At each meeting more than 80 residents have attended – many to testify against the proposed development. We are beginning to interpret actions of the developer’s attorney, the city’s planning office and the city’s attorney as a collusion to avoid a public hearing.
At the Aug. 21 meeting it was announced that the public hearing would be divided into two parts, SEPA issues and land use permit testimony. The appellant filed as Mike Beardsley, et al, with intent to be on the behalf of 149 residents who had signed a petition in objection to the proposed development. This new agenda, brought to the appellant’s attention only a few hours prior to the meeting, disallowed the public to participate because after three-and-a-half hours it was announced that the meeting would be continued on Sept. 6.
Aug. 28 was set for public testimony on the land use permit issue.
Did that happen? No. The developer’s attorney asked for a postponement of the hearing to give them an opportunity to work out a solution with the Stillaguamish Tribe over some “new evidence,” which wasn’t new evidence.
The developer’s press release, announcing the postponement of the meeting, was handed out to people as early as 6:50 p.m. It was not until 7:15 p.m. that they had permission from the planning commission to postpone the hearing. If this doesn’t speak to collusion and improprieties, then what does? City of Arlington, if your ploy is to intentionally wear people down, it won’t work with us! We will be heard. We will be back. So get a larger room.
Arlington
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