Sammamish prides itself on its natural beauty. Our forests and nature are part of the character of our city. Regional plans require protection of wildlife habitat and Kokanee salmon, even in urban areas. We can create room for both humans and wildlife, even while we grow.
A recent story in the Shoreline Area News was titled Wanting to protect our mature trees and welcoming green spaces is not code for “don’t build homes"
I believe in protecting the parks, open spaces, and natural habitat that make Sammamish so special. The recent loss of multiple 100 year old trees in our Lower Commons Park because of a permit issued by the City for the Town Center is simply unacceptable.
The City has an outdated Urban Forest Management Plan that needs to be updated and supported with an Urban Forest Manager. Otherwise we will lose our mature trees to development before we’ve identified our own priorities.
It’s not about stopping development. It’s about enforcing existing environmental rules as we grow.
Is Multifamily Development always better for the environment than Single Family? I hear this argument from those who promote higher density, and I think there is more to this discussion.
The overall impact of multifamily housing depends heavily on location. When built in a car-dependent suburb with poor public transit like Sammamish, it still contributes to high vehicle emissions. And much of the energy savings from shared walls and materials is offset by the huge environmental impact of the initial construction.
It is true that multifamily housing uses less land per capita than single family homes. About half of that savings is the loss of individual yards. But is this exchange worth the price? The typical single family home on a ¼ acre lot would have about 5,000 sf of yard. So a multifamily development of 2,000 units would need 230 acres of park or open space to provide land equivalent to people’s yards in single family neighborhoods. And 4,000 units would need to provide 460 acres of park or open space. Is it really worth that tradeoff?
Our Climate Action Plan should focus on education and realistic strategies for our residents to impact climate change through our own daily lifestyles. Promoting native vegetation that is resilient to climate change and supports wildlife is also an important element, along with energy conservation, recycling and composting.
Future plans for existing homes to be converted to 100% electricity must be paired with significant improvements in PSE’s ability to provide power. Current utility infrastructure does not meet this need.
Sammamish families deserve a city that’s not just beautiful, but a leader in environmental protection.