Update on Northshore Fire chief retirement

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

From left: Retired Chief Jim Torpin, Capt. Mitch Sauer,
and Acting Chief Eric Magnuson in a 2014 photo


Suzanne Greathouse, Chair of the Board of Commissioners, Northshore Fire Protection District 16, reports that,

Fire Chief Jim Torpin retired from the District with over 26 years of distinguished service - most recently he was instrumental in helping the District achieve a AAA Bond rating. 
He had a comprehensive succession plan in place and has been working with the District staff over the last few years to ensure a smooth transition. 
Per the succession plan, Deputy Chief Eric Magnuson has assumed the role of Acting Chief. 
The Board of Commissioners is discussing next steps and will review all options including regionalization. 
Through thoughtful consideration the Commission will endeavor to make a decision that provides the best service for our citizens.


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Lecture: Social Security and what can be done to strengthen it

An information session on Social Security and what we can do to strengthen it for future generations will be presented by Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action

"Making Retirement Security Real for Everyone" will be held Thursday, May 30 at 7:00pm at Third Place Commons at the Town Center at Lake Forest Park, 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park.

For more information, call 206-261-8110.



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Ceremonies at Acacia on Memorial Day

Kenmore and District Pipe Band playing Amazing Grace
as they marched in to open the ceremonies


Text and photos by Jerry Pickard

On Monday, May 27th, Acacia Memorial Park in Lake Forest Park held their annual Memorial services.

Over 200 people attended the ceremonies
The services started with the Kenmore and District Pipe Band playing "Amazing Grace" as they marched in.

Around two hundred were in attendance.

J. Vince Larkin was the Master of Ceremonies. Boy Scout Troop 348 posted the colors. Chaplain Trudy James gave the Invocation and Major Eli Curtis Smith Jr. USMC (Ret.) gave the address.

After the address Doves were released and the Kenmore and District Pipe Band provided a musical interlude, Chaplain James gave the Benediction.

Medal of Honor winner
Robert Earl Bonney
The ceremonies ended with cannon fire.

A visit was made to Medal of Honor recipient Robert Earl Bonney's grave to place a flag in his honor.

At the Veterans Cemetery relatives were tending the graves.

Boy Scout Troop 348 gave away free hot dogs and lemonade.


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Are you ready for The Big One? Briarcrest Emergency Prep and Safety Fair June 15


The Briarcrest neighborhood association is hosting an Emergency Prep and Safety Fair on Saturday, June 15th from noon until 4:00pm at Briarcrest Elementary School, 2715 NE 158th, Shoreline 98155.

Special presentation from Jason McMillan, City of Shoreline, at 12:15pm. Fire extinguisher training at 1:15pm. Home earthquake retrofitting at 2:15pm.

Free food from Patty Pan Cooperative.



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Shoreline Historical Museum building project - dinner and auction Saturday

Monday, May 27, 2019

The Collections and Research Facility
Photo by Steven H. Robinson


The Shoreline Historical Museum broke ground for the first phase of its building project in the fall of 2018. (see previous article)

Since then, they have made good progress.

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

There are now three buildings on their property at N 185th and Linden Ave N. Besides the new, two story building under construction, they have the original building which contains their exhibits.

The new building looms over the small, front building
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

There is another small building on the site, which is not open to the public.

Architect's drawing of completed museum

The architect's drawing shows the vision of the completed museum. You can help make this a reality by contributing to the building fund:

Gifts of $1000+ will receive a commemorative brick in the Museum’s new plaza. Gifts of $5000+ receive two bricks, and a permanent place of honor in the Museum. Click Our Future to see the groundbreaking. To request a capital campaign package please call 206-542-7111, or donate HERE.

This Saturday, June 1, Shoreline Rotary presents the Shoreline Historical Museum’s Home For History Dinner and Auction on Saturday June 1, 2019 at 5:30pm at the Shoreline Elks Club, 14625 15th Avenue NE. Sign up HERE and see our previous article for the list of items to be auctioned.

The museum covers Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, and north Seattle.





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Two parenting authors and an artist's guide to birds at Third Place this week

Local birders will be interested in Birds of the West: An Artist’s Guide, being presented by artist Molly Hashimoto on Thursday. Two different parenting books on Tuesday and Wednesday and a tasty mystery with a female coroner as the protagonist on Friday.


All at Third Place Books, Town Center, intersection Bothell and Ballinger Way, Lake Forest Park.

Tuesday, May 28 at 7pm
Cassy O’ Roarty

Joyful Courage: Calming the Drama and Taking Control of your Parenting Journey

From toddler to teenagers, Joyful Courage is the practical and thoughtful resource for parents to navigate the challenge of raising children while choosing to be connected and engaged. Parents can learn how to be their best for their families with Joyful Courage.

Wednesday, May 29 at 7pm
John Luzzi

Dads Know Best

Dads Know Best is a real-talk book about parenting. No sugar-coating. No pandering. No clichés. From navigating epic diaper blowouts to managing pregnancy cravings, Seattle-based guitarist and songwriter John Luzzi – who wasn’t finding the advice he needed in parenting books, but wanted to be a better dad than anyone he knew - has you covered. 

Thursday, May 30 at 7pm
Molly Hashimoto

Birds of the West: An Artist’s Guide
Award-winning artist Molly Hashimoto captures nearly 100 Western bird species across seven habitats using different media, from quick ink sketches to vivid block prints. From the diminutive ruby-crowned kinglet to the majestic golden eagle, Molly’s range of art and detail encourages all of us, whether artists or not, to observe our feathered friends more closely.

Friday, May 30 at 6pm
Jennifer Dornbush

The Coroner

Summoned from her promising surgical career - first to her estranged father's bedside, and then his post as medical examiner when his small town needs urgent help with a suspicious death - Emily Hartford discovers home is where the bodies are in this pitch perfect mystery debut. Jennifer Dornbush is the author of Forensic Speak: How to Write Realistic Crime Dramas.



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Memorial Day - Monday May 27 - honors those who died while serving



Memorial Day, May 27, 2019



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Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park opens at the Museum of Flight

Hundreds of people attended the ceremony.
The B-52G Stratofortress is part of the display.
The Huey helicopter did a flyover
Photo by Steven H. Robinson


Saturday, May 25, 2019 was the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park, located behind the Aviation Pavilion at the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field, 9404 E. Marginal Way S, Seattle 98108.

Memorial statue and Stratofortress
Photo by Steven H. Robinson


The new park features their B-52G Stratofortress, memorial statue and a tribute wall with personalized plaques from people honoring the veterans in their lives.

The park is part of the healing process for veterans
Photo by Steven H. Robinson


The program included aircraft flyovers, an Honor Guard presentation and a special pinning ceremony for Vietnam veterans in attendance to honor their service.

It was an opportunity for Vietnam vets to talk
Photo by Steven H. Robinson


They are offering FREE general admission to the Museum and 50% off entrance to Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission for Veterans (plus one adult and any children under 17) for Monday, May 27 to celebrate this event.


Photo by Jerry Pickard


Keynote Address was from General Jim Mattis (Ret.) USMC and 26th Secretary of Defense

The plaque at the base of the status reads:

Vietnam Air War Veterans Memorial: 
Open for all who wish to remember, heal and learn.
Dedicated to all Veterans who bravely served in the Vietnam War; both those who returned and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Army - Marines - Navy - Air Force - Coast Guard
The Museum of Flight is proud to honor your service. 
Welcome Home!



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Development: Construction underway on Alexan Shoreline

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Construction has begun on the Alexan Shoreline on the triangle formed by Westminster Way, Aurora, and Shoreline Place.

The apartment complex begun as Potala Place under Bellevue developer Lobsang Dargey. When he was convicted of scamming hundreds of investors out of tens of millions of dollars for projects from Everett to Belltown, he was charged and his properties seized to pay his debts.

This road was open for a short time after it was
closed in the other direction.
Photo by Steven H. Robinson


Ownership of the Potala went to the financial institution that had funded the project, then was sold to Trammell Crow and ended up as part of the Alexan family of real estate development.

The new owners made only minor design changes and allowed the permitting process to continue.

Aurora to the left. 155th Blue Bridge top left.
Shoreline Place to the right


Now construction has begun on the site. The road between the site and Shoreline Place has been closed in both directions for the duration. The site originally had several standalone businesses, most notably Dairy Queen. 

The architect's drawing took some artistic license in
depicting the roads around the project

Alexan Shoreline will have two 5-story buildings with 330 units. A two story parking garage will have 302 spaces for vehicles and 199 bike parking spaces. A common courtyard is between the buildings. 2,524 square feet is available for retail.




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Rob Oxford: a personal Memorial Day

S. Sgt. Dennis W. Anderson (Vietnam 1965)


By Rob Oxford

Although first observed in the town of Waterloo, N.Y. on May 5, 1866 – only a year after the end of the Civil War, Memorial Day didn’t become a National Holiday until 1971.

Because it was one of the first communities to host an annual, community-wide event, during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags, 100 years later in 1966, Waterloo would be designated by the federal government as the official birthplace of “Memorial Day”.

Honoring each of our Military Veterans is of course unquestionably essential, but Memorial Day is meant to specifically honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice while still serving in the United States Armed Forces.

S Sgt. Dennis W. Anderson
The “Ultimate Sacrifice”. The words seem so easily said, but for my friend Danette Anderson Thompson, so much more than mere words. Danette is, of course, not alone.

Approximately 58,209 Americans died during the Vietnam conflict. I mention Vietnam specifically because that’s where my father served and where Danette’s father paid that “ultimate sacrifice.”

Until you actually meet someone who lost a loved one in battle you don’t fully understand the gravity of such a loss. So many stories of husbands, fathers, brothers, sons and in some cases daughters, fighting wars in defense of our freedoms, never to return to their families and loved ones. Such heroism and bravery. 

I was lucky, my father came home from Vietnam. Danette’s father was one of the 58, 209 soldiers who did not.

Although I’d known Danette since high school, I had no idea her father died in Vietnam. The year was 1966 and Danette was 7 ½. While asking her permission to write this article, I couldn’t bring myself to inquire about the particulars of his death. I wanted to know and she probably would have told me all she knew, but I realized before asking, the where and how wasn’t important.

Dennis W. Anderson Jr. receiving his father's Bronze Star
What was important was that Dec 11, 1966, just two weeks before Christmas, 30-year-old SSGT. Dennis W. Anderson, born in Winner, S.D., left behind a wife and four children. One of those children is my friend.

After reconnecting with Danette several years ago, I found out that she was born at Madigan Army Hospital in Tacoma. After returning from Vietnam, my father was in charge of the mess hall at Madigan.

Occasionally my brothers and I would tag along as he went about the business of planning and preparing meals for the officers and enlisted men. 

I distinctly remember how proud and honored I felt when upon entering the base, the guards would salute my father as he passed through.

Had he returned from Vietnam, Danette’s father may very well have been treated to some of my father’s world famous goulash.

Although I’m not certain “treat” is the best word to describe this delicacy comprised of anything leftover in the refrigerator and thrown into a pot to cook?

Danette and her family left Washington State in May of 1969 and moved to Grapevine, TX. where she still resides. As anyone who has gone about the business of starting a career and raising a family can attest, Danette’s ability to visit her father’s gravesite has been limited. For this reason and because Tumwater, where his grave is located, is only 76 miles from my house, a few years ago I decided to pay a visit on her behalf.

S. Sgt. Anderson's gravesite
in Tumwater
After getting up early the Sunday before Memorial Day, I drove to Olympia Memorial Gardens, now called Mills and Mills Memorial Park. It wasn’t something I felt I needed to do; it was something I wanted to do. Not only for my friend Danette, but for myself.

My parents were both cremated and their ashes scattered together per their wishes. There are no graves for me to visit and although many of my relatives are veterans of the military, none paid the ultimate sacrifice.

This was an opportunity to show my respect to the father of a friend and to one of those whom Memorial Day is dedicated. I found Mr. Anderson's grave, said a prayer and thank you, took a couple photos for Danette and left flowers on his family’s behalf.

While there, I imagined myself a 7 ½ year old little girl not being given the chance to say goodbye to my father. I imagined myself having to live the rest of my life with that hole in my heart. The drive home was difficult, but I will be making that drive again this year.

This article is dedicated to the memory of S. Sgt. Dennis W. Anderson, his daughter Danette and the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who for decades have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Thank you and God Bless You.




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Lecture: Are Salmon Doomed? Hatching a Plan to Save a Northwest Icon

Nick Bond
Climatologist
Thursday, May 30, 2019 from 7-8pm at the Shoreline Library, 345 NE 175th, Shoreline 98155.

An environmental necessity, a vital economic resource, and a cultural symbol, salmon play a fundamental role in the Pacific Northwest—but they are in trouble.

With warming oceans, environmental degradation, and lowering genetic variability, wild salmon populations are dwindling.

Climatologist Nick Bond explores the past, present, and possible future conditions for salmon in our state, and sees room for optimism. 

He shares lessons on how local communities have accomplished important work to support salmon runs, but also takes a hard look at the realities climate change poses for this regional treasure.

Explore the history, science, and story of this cherished Northwest icon.

Sponsored by Humanities Washington.


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Drop-in genealogy help at Shoreline Library Wednesday

Certificated genealogist and Seattle Genealogy Society volunteer Heidi Mair will be at the Shoreline Library on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 from 2:00 to 4:00pm to help family historians knock down their "brick walls."

Bring your research and talk to Heidi about your next steps.

Shoreline Library 345 NE 175th, Shoreline 98155.



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Hemlock State Brewery opens in Mountlake Terrace

A big step up from a garage!


Text and photos by Johanna Polit

Hemlock State Brewery returns!!

On Friday, May 19th, Hemlock State Brewery opened to the public at their new location at 23601 56th Ave W in Mountlake Terrace.

For the first licensed brewery in Shoreline (founded in 2012), it’s a huge step from the garage-based operation they closed last August as they embarked on this journey to expand and establish a local gathering place. (see previous article)

Local founders and MLT officials at the official ribbon-cutting


Whether you miss their Saturday morning growler fills, their “Hibeernation” on tap at local pubs, or have never heard of them, it’s worth checking them out.

You are sure to find something delicious to suit your taste. Starting with four beers and three ciders on tap, they have room to expand to 20 taps. You can buy a glass to drink there, or get a fresh 32-oz ‘crowler’ or your own growler filled to take away.

Get a pint of beer for $6, or a 32 oz ‘crowler’ to go, filled and sealed while you watch, for $7.


If you didn’t bring your growler, they’ve got you covered with growlers for sale, as well Hemlock State pints and tulip glasses, and super-soft t-shirts.

Kids and dogs are welcome at Hemlock State Brewery


Hemlock State’s founders, some of whom are parents of young kids themselves, really wanted to create a space where adults could enjoy themselves, but also one where families were welcome. What better time to check them out than during this 3-day weekend?

Other useful stuff to know:
  • Hours:
    • Sunday noon-9pm
    • Monday - Thursday 3pm-10pm
    • Friday 3pm-11pm 
    • Saturday noon-11pm
  • In-building parking accessible from 236th
  • A few snacks available for purchase
  • Outside food welcome… visit another local business on your way in!
  • Kids and dogs are welcome
  • Non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase
  • Free wi-fi on site
  • More information:
Did we mention they brew on site?


The new space is intentionally built for folks who are interested in beer. They designed the brewing area without glass between their customers and their equipment. Patrons are welcome to chat them up while they brew!




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Sports Desk: Two Shoreline athletes win state championships

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Kiana Lino wins the state title in shot put 3A


Shorecrest sophomore Kiana Lino and Shorewood junior Jonathan Birchman won individual State Championships at the 3-day State Track and Field Championship at Mt. Tahoma HS.

Lino won the girls Shot Put with a heave of 44’ 10”, a personal record.

Birchman set a personal record in his event, the 300 Meter Hurdles.

Lauren Block, coach Mike Osbourne, and Livia Glascock

Overall, the SW boys finished with 37 points, good for an eighth-place tie, behind Gig Harbor with 118 points.

The SC girls also finished in a tie for eighth with 39 points, behind Central Kitsap at 74 points.

The SC boys tied for 27th, with 12 points, while the SW girls were tied for 26th, with 13 points.

Other notables — SC junior Dahlia McAllister took third in the Long Jump. SC senior Morgan Leavitt finished sixth in the Long Jump. In the girls 800, seniors Lauren Block and Livia Glascock finished 6th and 8th, respectively.



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Photo: Foxglove in full bloom

Photo by Frank Kleyn


Frank Kleyn reports:

It's a rare sight to find a common foxglove (digitalis purpurea) with a fully open bloom. This volunteer foxglove was found in an naturally tended, undisturbed cedar grove in Richmond Beach.




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Rat City Roller Derby packs up and leaves Shoreline

"We're moving everything out of the Rat's Nest - strong skaters = strong movers!"
Photo courtesy Rat City Roller Derby


By Diane Hettrick

The Rat City Roller Derby packed up their goods and moved out of the Rat's Nest on Aurora at 19022 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline.

The building was the former Sleep Aire Mattress Factory, owned by the Pearson family. It was built in 1966 and operated there for over 25 years. It was closed as a business and sat empty for years. Aurora Rents used it as a temporary location while their new building was being constructed at 175th and Aurora.

Rat City Roller Derby has moved out of The Rat's Nest
Google


Rat City moved in at the beginning of 2014 and used it as a practice site and for small, local matches. Their big matches were held at Key Arena and brought in 6000 fans.

They also rented it to another roller group - the Jet City Roller Derby out of Everett.

The Pearson family eventually put the property up for sale and it was purchased in 2016 by a local developer and his partners as a site for an apartment building. The same partnership group built the Malmo apartments and the Paceline apartments - both on or near Aurora.

Rat City was notified that the building would be demolished.

In three years of looking, they have been unable to find a new space.

The issues are space, columns, location, and money. There are many warehouses but they all have columns. Columns are not compatible with a skating track and bleachers. A flat roller derby track requires 8,100 SF (75' wide x 108' long).

As for location, they need something on a main road in Seattle. And money? If they had money to buy land, they wouldn't have to worry about it being sold out from underneath them.

At one point the Roller Derby thought they had found a space in SODO, but that did not work out. The new owners of the Aurora property helped them look, but without success.

Rat City's lease ended October of 2018. Owners extended it through April and then granted them a little more time.

They had a moving sale on May 4, 2019, and then moved everything out on May 19, just after finishing a full day event called the Summer Slam.

They have been able to find a practice space in West Seattle for the summer only.

"There will be bruises"
Photo copyright Marc Weinberg from a match in 2014


Nicole Brodeur, in her column on Rat City, chided the area's millionaires.

"Any one of the region’s countless millionaires or foundations could write these people a check and solve this problem. They need, what, $500,000 for a hunk of land big enough to pour a track, surround it with a fabric building with steel girders and a retaining wall. Electricity and plumbing. Parking. All right, let’s say $1 million. That’s a latte for you fine, rich folks."

Both Brodeur and Nathalie Graham in her feature in The Stranger lamented the loss of the junior teams and the opportunities for young girls to play competitive sports.


5-28-19 Updated location of Aurora Rents

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Shoreline CC Automotive student headed for national skills competition

Saturday, May 25, 2019

From left: Natalie Tjok, instructor Amber Avery, Caleb Bagwell,
Jeff Cromwell (T-TEN Instructor), Brian Dale, Rory Smith
Photo courtesy Shoreline CC


Shoreline Community College's automotive department recently qualified a student for the state level SkillsUSA competition. SkillsUSA is a national organization that promotes students in the trades at high school and postsecondary level to compete and showcase their skills.

The school competed for the first time in April at the competition in Pasco, Washington.

Shoreline Community College student Caleb Bagwell placed first and is going to nationals against the best automotive student from each state.

Amber Avery, Automotive Service Technician instructor at Shoreline Community College, 16101 Greenwood Ave N Shoreline 98133, reports that,

Last year I was asked by Nissan to judge at the national skillsusa competition. At that time I was unaware that students could compete at the college level. Once I knew that I wanted to take our Shoreline students to compete.
Easter weekend we loaded up four students at 4:30am Friday morning to head to Pasco for the state competition. The competition consisted of nine hands-on skills stations and an ASE (automotive service excellence) test.

Shoreline CC students placed in the top, with a Toyota T-TEN (Technician Training and Education Network) taking 1st and 3rd.

Shoreline CC automotive student Caleb Bagwell, 30, from Wenatchee, placed 1st in the state competition, qualifying for the nationals.
Shoreline student Rory Smith took third. 

Caleb will be competing at SkillsUSA nationals the week of June 24th in Louisville, KY, up against the top student from each state.

The competition goes from 8am-4pm. The stations will cover all automotive areas (Engine Repair, Engine Performance, Electrical, Automatic Transmissions, Manual Transmissions, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Brakes, and Steering Suspension and Handling)

There will be hands-on stations where the student will diagnose and identify various issues. The last piece will be a written ASE test. ASE is the nationally accredited test that automotive technicians take to show they are proficient in the theory of vehicle repair and diagnostics.

Avery says, "Our students are trained to highest industry standards. It is not uncommon for them to graduate at a much higher level than technicians who have 5-10 years on the job."



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Measles - are you at risk?

Measles is spread by coughing
By Diane Hettrick

Just in case you are wondering about the King county measles cases, I have been following the Public Health reports. So far, of the six cases reported in King County, five are linked to SeaTac airport.

With the exception of the Canadian who traveled home via Kenmore Air on April 28th, none of the five got any farther north than 3rd Ave in downtown Seattle.

Since symptoms appear 7-10 days after exposure, you are safe from the Kenmore incident.

The last case is a baby who was taken to the emergency room at Children's on May 24th. 

Measles (rubeola) is an airborne virus, spread by coughing, sneezing, or just breathing. The virus can stay in the air for two hours.

If you have had measles or if you have been vaccinated, you are protected. If you were born before 1957, the CDC isn't worried about you.

The vaccine, MMR, is for mumps and two kinds of measles - the current problem of rubeola and the more serious rubella.

If you aren't sure and you are concerned, consult your physician. Or you can just get another vaccine - the health department says there's no harm to an additional dose of vaccine.

There are public health clinics at Northgate, Edmonds, and Lynnwood that provide low-cost services and don't usually charge visit fees. 



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Update on Point Wells: Snohomish county appeal hearing completed

The Point Wells property has been used for oil storage and shipping.
This is an active asphalt storage on the site. The trees are on a
steep, landslide prone hillside where a road washed out.
Google Earth


For newer readers: Point Wells is a proposed development on Puget Sound directly north of Shoreline's Richmond Beach neighborhood. The developer proposed several "villages" of high rise buildings with around 3,000 units. There is only one small road into the development and it runs through Shoreline.

The report following was just issued by the Sno-King Environmental Protection Coalition, a citizen's group formed to fight or at least mitigate the development.


Appeal Hearing Completed

BSRE's appeal hearing before Judge McHale took place on May 10th in the King County Courthouse. BSRE was appealing the Snohomish County Hearing Examiner's decision, later upheld by the Snohomish County Council, to deny BSRE's development application for constructing 3000+ housing units and over 100,000 square feet of commercial and retail space at Point Wells.

The Point Wells site includes Puget Sound shoreline, landslide hazard areas, and is currently served by a single two lane residential street. These characteristics brought into play regulations concerning shoreline development, development in hazardous areas, and transportation access requirements. These issues were all prominently mentioned during the hearing.

Shoreline development

The County has regulations controlling what kind of development can happen along shorelines, and how close to the shoreline any development is allowed. The key regulation in this case is a County requirement that any development not dependent on access to water be set back 150 feet from the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM). The OHWM is defined as the highest location on a beach where, due to consistent tidal action, the character of the beach is distinct from areas further inland.

The County described how BSRE failed to identify the OHWM in their initial application submitted in 2011 and did not correct that mistake until early 2018, just prior to the hearing before the Hearing Examiner. As a result of not identifying the OHWM, BSRE placed several of their buildings within the 150 foot buffer area, creating a substantial conflict with County regulations.

Hazardous areas

The eastern edge of the site includes steep slopes with a large landslide hazard area at the foot of the slope. County regulations do not permit any development inside landslide hazard areas unless there is no other place on the property to place those parts of the development, and unless the landslide hazard can be mitigated so that any part of the development inside the hazard area is as safe as if it were placed outside the area (this is usually done with retaining walls and other means of stabilizing the slope). BSRE's application showed what they labeled the Upper Village, including multiple tall buildings, a transit center, and police and fire stations, was to be constructed in the landslide hazard area.

The County argued that BSRE had admitted that there were other places on the property to place the buildings included in the Upper Village, but that BSRE preferred the site in the hazard area. The County further stated that while BSRE did present some plans to mitigate the potential hazards, the information was not complete enough to determine whether the mitigation was sufficient to make the Village safe. BSRE's failure to make use of other non-hazardous areas on the site for the Upper Village, and their incomplete plans for hazard mitigation both created a substantial conflict with County regulations.

Transportation access

The Urban Center regulations allowed BSRE to build up to a maximum of 180 feet (double to normal 90 foot limit) if the site was near a mass transit station or route and if BSRE demonstrated the additional height was necessary and desirable. The route for Sounder commuter rail does go right through the property, but Sound Transit has no plans to stop at Point Wells so the mere presence of the route would not allow any passengers to board the train.

The County argued that a route without a station violated several other provisions of the County Code that required Urban Centers to include mass transit access, that BSRE had not shown a good faith effort to get Sound Transit to agree to stop at a station should one be built, and in any case, BSRE had not submitted any documentation showing that the additional height was either necessary or desirable. The missing station and the missing documentation made any building over 90 feet in height a substantial conflict with County regulations.

Vesting question

BSRE presented one other claim that could end up outweighing all the other claims. BSRE argued that their vesting rights included the right to resubmit their application to the County within 6 months of the denial and preserve their right to develop under the old 2011 Urban Center regulations.

The County argued that the right to resubmit the application was repealed in 2013, that this right was not vested because it is an application processing regulation not a land use regulation (vesting only applies to land use regulations), and most importantly, the 6 month window ran out in February, 2019 without the County receiving a resubmitted application.

What's next?

Judge McHale promised to issue a decision by June 10, 2019. It's almost certain that no matter what the decision, it will be appealed to the State Court of Appeals; that will guarantee at least one more hearing.

If BSRE loses that appeal, they can then ask the State Supreme Court to review the case, but the Supreme Court is not required to review all appeals and tends to ignore cases where the decision is obvious and there are no new legal issues at question. The County probably believes there is no reason for the Supreme Court to get involved, but that remains to be seen.

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Memorial Day program at Senior Center honored fallen warriors

Honor guard from Naval Station Everett presents the flag
Photo by Jerry Pickard


On Friday, May 24, 2019 the Shoreline/Lake Forest Park Senior Center 18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline 98155 held a MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE luncheon to honor those who gave their life while serving our country.

Captain Michael Davis, right, delivered the keynote address
Gen. Ray Coffee of American Legion Post 227 on the left
Photo by Jerry Pickard

The keynote speaker was Captain Michael F. Davis, Commanding Officer, Naval Station Everett.

Col. Roger Horner, Ret.
Photo by Jerry Pickard


Captain Davis was introduced by Col. Roger Horn, Ret.

Commander Richard B. White, Post 227
Photo by Jerry Pickard

Richard B. White, Commander, American Legion Starr Sutherland Post 227, gave remarks.



Center Director Theresa LaCroix thanked everyone for attending and expressed her appreciation to Naval Station Everett for once again participating in the Memorial Day ceremony at the Center.




Artist Michael Reagan of Edmonds was there with a display of his Fallen Heroes Project. Reagan makes drawings of fallen soldiers from their photos and presents them to their families. He and his project are nationally known.


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