The Shoreline Planning Commission met on June 16, 2022, to receive an update on economic development activities and development pipeline from Nathan Daum, Economic Development Manager. The meeting also included public comment on tree protection and routine approvals.
Recording in progress. Good evening. I'd like to call to order the Thursday, June 26th. No, excuse me, June 16th, 2022 Planning Commission meeting. First item is roll call, Ms. Volksma. Commissioner Brinson. Here. Commissioner Callahan. Here. Commissioner Galluska. Present. Commissioner Lin. Here. Commissioner Mosier. Here. Vice Chair Wama Shonja. Present. And Chair Sager. Here. Thank you. Thank you. Next on the agenda is approval of the agenda. We all have it in front of us. Any changes? Great. Thank you. Next is approval of the minutes from the May 19th, 2022 meeting. Anybody have any changes? Nothing. Thank you. Next on the agenda is general public comment. Ms. Hoaxma, do we have anybody for general public comment? We had just for the record, we had several written general public comments prior to the meeting, and they are uploaded to our website. So if anyone wants to view them, they are there. And we also have one remote speaker, Kathleen Russell. And Kathleen, you are unmuted. This is Kathleen Russell, resident of Shoreline. Safe Shoreline Trees supports the need for housing, but our hope is that housing and established neighborhood trees can coexist. As confirmed by the director at the planning commission meeting on January 6th of this year, approximately 20% of development property in Shoreline is not subject to any tree code. This applies to seven zones CB, NB, MB, MUR70, and TC 1, 2, and 3. Per municipal code, developers do not have to retain any of the trees on these properties, and there are no requirements for replacement trees. This means that trees on approximately 20% of the property and shoreline are not protected and are in the process of being clear cut. On the other 80% of property, 25% retention of significant trees is required. Please go over to Meridian and North 147th in Parkwood and see what is happening there where hundreds of trees have been cut down. Soon this number will be in the thousands of trees removed for development. This evening on the illustrations of the new apartment buildings, you might notice a few trees around the properties, but new landscaping will never provide the benefits of shorelines mature conifer and native trees. Currently, since there is no retention, tree retention or tree replacement on 20% of development property. We ask the city to protect Shoreline's tree canopy, protect the health and environmental benefits these trees provide to current residents of Shoreline and will provide to future residents if these trees are preserved.