UPPER BEAR CREEK COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING

Date: Jan. 27 2004
Time: 7:00 - 9:10 PM
Location: Woodinville Library
Board Attendees: Geoff Clayton, Nancy Stafford, Jerry Hicks, Mary Filkins, Kathy Ravenscroft
County Attendees: Marissa Algeria, Paul Reitenbach of DDES, Sally Abella of DNRP, Eric Pentico of Dept Fish and Wildlife and Josh Monaghan King County Conservation Dist.
Washington State Department of Ecology: Doug Palenshun, Tricia Shoblom, Tony Whiley and Donald Seeberger.
Community Attendees: Alan Robb, Steven Baily, Ken McDowell, Ray Gauthien, Bob Wright, Jeff Goold, Terry Lavender, Chuck Cushing, Peter Lamanna, Maxine Keesling, Rosalie & Gunther Paulgen, , David Moore, Marlette Wollebek, Betty Ratliff, Ann Whitney, Russ Glaser, Carol Porter.

The evening actually began at 6:00 pm with an Open House by Ecology on the subject of water quality in Cottage Lake. Ecology set up displays, pictures and printed material for those attending to take home. At 7:00, UBCC Pres. Geoff Clayton introduced Doug Palenshun of the Dept of Ecology who in turn introduced a series of presenters with information on the cause of pollution, mainly phosphorus in Cottage Lake. The make up of the lake, its seasonal temperature variations and the different temperatures at different depths in the lake; and the results of previous studies and actions (monitored since 1993) were presented in slides showing comparison graphs and pictures of the lake by the lecturers. The lake's maximum depth is about 25 feet and nearly 200 pounds of dissolved phosphorous enters the lake from Daniels Creek, Cottage Lake Creek, lawn runoff and stirring up of the mud on the bottom of the lake. Public comment on their material is/was encouraged. A local steering committee will be established that will work to better identify sources of phosphorous going into the lake and make recommendations about how to reduce that volume of phosphorous. Ecology needs citizen volunteers to serve on this committee.

At 8:10 Geoff introduced Paul Reitenbach of the Dept of Development and Environmental Services who presented a quick review of proposed changes to the 2004 King County Comprehensive Plan with relation to our community. Jan. 30th is the last day for comment on the "Executive Proposed Plan" and Ron Sims will make his presentation of the Comp Plan revisions to the King County Council in March of this year. The King County Council will solicit comments from the community this spring and summer. Three local areas of concern were discussed at some length. 1) Printed copies of the Duvall/Cherry Valley Rock Quarry Study Area were available. 2) The NE corner of Woodinville Duvall Rd and Avondale is owned by a church who wants to sell the property. Local concern rested on the use of that property to enlarge the shopping center on the north side of the W/D Rd. Owners of the Safeway property have not been seen as environmentally responsible to the effects of surface water runoff or sewage disposal as it affects Cottage Lake. 3) The third property discussed was the NE corner of NE 124th and Redmond Woodinville Rd where the Molbak green houses are. It is now zoned as Horticulture (growing plants) but Molbaks would like to move their operation from Woodinville and allow retail and parking at their green houses. Zoning of an area for future relocation of the Woodinville Farmers Market was questioned. The 2004 Comp Plan amendments presented appeared to support and protect the present use of properties in our area and encourage small businesses ie: horticulture & wineries in the Samm. Valley. Zoning regulations of businesses in the home were questioned and explained. Current growth targets are designed to cover 1992-2012, the recommendation is to extend that date to 2022 with 95% of the growth targets being within cities, leaving rural areas "as is". He noted that the Executive does not want to change the zoning designation of APD (agriculture) lands even if it would help restore very important salmon habitat.

The next Upper Bear Creek public forum will be held at 7:30 on Feb 24th at the Woodinville Water District Offices.