Letters

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  • Monday, March 3, 2008 11:34am

Edmonds

Give options rather than cut down trees

The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) says we can expect 1.7 million more people in Puget Sound by 2040. The population of Edmonds could more than double. Can you imagine twice as many people living in Edmonds? And the PSRC has a hammer. If we don’t plan for more growth, it can withhold government funding.

Our choices are limited. We can in-fill. For example, a developer buys two adjacent older homes that sit on 12,000 square-foot lots and builds four homes that sit on 6,000 square-foot lots for more single family housing.

We can increase density in areas that are already developed by allowing greater height for multi family housing with retail space.

Or we can cut down the remainder of our forest habitats. Ninety-five percent of Edmonds is already built out. The last 5 percent is deep ravines, steep hills, ponds, and streams because these are the hardest to develop.

It’s not profitable for developers to build in these areas if they must comply with the city’s zoning codes and the critical areas ordinance. A Planned Residential Development (PRD) allows the developers to bend the rules. They can cluster homes on small lots, reduce road widths, ignore setbacks, or create odd shaped properties.

The consequences are that developers can profitably build in natural habitats. Landowners have the right to use their property, but they are not guaranteed a profit by being allowed to build more than one home. The woods that buffer our neighborhoods are disappearing.

Imagine no forest between neighborhoods; nothing but houses jammed on naked and windy hills. Stop approving PRDs that return a profit for destroying our natural habitats. Give developers profitable alternatives.

DON KREIMAN

Edmonds

Mountlake Terrace

Woman is worthy of citizen of year honors

She is just a slender bit-of-a lady but what a powerhouse and good example to us all. We love having her as a neighbor here on Melody Hill. Debbie Hiber still attends City Council meetings and keeps up on the issues. If you want to see feisty, just mention the Melody Hill School rezoning effort. But that is not the precious thing about our senior citizen.

Debbie Hiber gets up every morning, and, with broom and dust pan in hand, sweeps the street from 62nd Avenue West to 64th Avenue West bordered by 222nd Avenue SW, picking up all the garbage and keeping all the city drains free of debris. She has my vote for Mountlake Terrace Citizen of the Year.

Thank you, Debbie. Go Girl.

SHIRLEY MALLOY

Mountlake Terrace

Mill Creek

Run of the Mill can inspire more good

So many requests for good causes fill my mailbox, it’s difficult to prioritize them, satisfy my conscience, and stay on a reasonable budget. Thanks to Steve and Linda Knox and all the folks involved in our new Run of the Mill, including those at the Mill Creek Enterprise, one decision is easier for me. The Run entry fees will be donated to the Lance Armstrong Foundation and my favorite local tradition, which encourages exercise, will be continued.

I’ve had three “adventures” with cancer. Surviving, recovering, and living to be 80 is partly luck and good care, but I also credit wonderful support from family and friends as well as exercise, especially running, which is so simple in Mill Creek. I run for endurance. I’ve solved problems, coped with grief and anger, organized my thoughts, and found the right words while running.

This year, a daughter and granddaughter may join me in the event. I hope I can encourage others, all ages, to join running or walking the route. The Web site is www.mcrunofthemill.com. Maybe they’ll all celebrate at the finish line. Maybe they’ll make donations or become sponsors of this good cause.

SELMA BONHAM

Mill Creek

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