EDMONDS – A standing-room only crowd at the June 1 Edmonds City Council meeting stayed late into the evening to voice their concerns and learn the tree-cutting saga will continue for at least another week.
The Council decided unanimously to put off until the next scheduled meeting any decision regarding a proposed settlement from Point Edwards LLC.
“At least we’re making some progress,” said one community member after the council’s decision was made.
The council approved more than an hour and a half of additional public comment time to allow the lengthy list of citizens to share their opinions on the issue.
Community member’s suggestions ranged from revoking the developer’s permit to building perching stands for eagles and migratory birds in the area among the new tree plantings.
City Council members said they needed additional peer reviews concerning the environmental effects of the clear-cut before making a decision. The Council is scheduled to meet 7 p.m., June 14, to discuss the time frame for the settlement and those reviews.
Point Edwards LLC will continue to pay $1,000 a day in fines, and will most likely do so through next week or until city staff believe adequate initial changes to the area have been made by the developer, Mayor Gary Haakenson said.
Point Edwards LLC has been under keen scrutiny since late April after the company violated the developer’s agreement by clear cutting trees on the steep slope of the former Unocal site earlier than allowed and without planting additional trees. The company is building a $65 million condominium project at the site which overlooks the waterfront.
Some key points from the settlement proposed by Point Edwards LLC include:
• The developer would donate $100,000 to the city to be split between the city’s beach rangers and flower programs.
• The developer would provide weekly written reports from the arborist confirming that work is being done in compliance with the original arborist’s report until all planting is completed. In addition, the developer will provide quarterly written reports from the arborist for three years regarding the health and maintenance of those plants.
• If an unauthorized or unexcused delay occurs regarding the written reports to the city, and is not resolved within two business days, the developer will pay an additional fine of $1,000 per day for each day the report is delayed.
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