UPDATE:  Additional coverage from the Seattle PI on the courts ruling on the Fort Lawton case.  King County Superior Court Judge Catherine Shaffer ruled that the city’s plan, which tentatively included more than 80 units for homeless or low-income residents, failed to follow proper environmental assessment procedures on land that for more than a century had been in military control at Fort Lawton.

Ruth Bowman, spokeswoman for Seattle City Attorney Tom Carr, said “the judge was just wrong” and the city will “definitely appeal the decision.” The city had argued that Magnolia neighbors had no legal standing to sue the city for noncompliance with the State Environmental Policy Act and asked that the lawsuit be dismissed.

Judge Shaffer disagreed, saying the Magnolia group could sue and that the city’s redevelopment plan for Fort Lawton “is declared null and void” until Seattle government complies with state environmental policy.

For the development plan to move forward, the judge said, the city also must show why the master plan for Discovery Park would not apply to the military property (which is inside the park). Opponents contend a housing development would violate the park’s master plan

We just received word from Elizabeth Campbell that the Magnolia Neighborhood Planning Council (MNPC) won its case today in King County Superior Court against the City of Seattle.  The MNPC sued the city over its Fort Lawton redevelopment plan. 

The MNPC alleged that the City failed to comply with SEPA regulations as it pursued its plans to establish a 200 unit housing development on the site, and that it had failed to abide by the guidelines and dictates of the Discovery Park Master Plan.  The judge decided in favor of MNPC, voided the City’s ordinance which had approved the Fort Lawton housing development plans, and ordered that the City must comply with SEPA.  The judge also ordered that the City must publicly pursue the matter of whether or not the park master plan applies to the reuse of the Army reserve property. 

Many people worked hard to bring about the park, to craft and establish a plan for not just the park at the time, but for the park in the future.  They also warned about efforts to diminish the integrity of Discovery Park, and hoped that people like us would step in to fill their shoes when they were no longer able to do so themselves.  I feel as if we have done that with this lawsuit, that it is just the beginning of a renewed commitment to protect Discovery Park and the Discovery Park Master Plan.   

Campbell says that this ruling levels the playing field with guidelines and standards which the city must follow.  She believes it gives people an opportunity to shape the use of the Army land.

We received this information after city offices closed for the weekend.  We will try to get comments from city officials regarding this lawsuit next week.  Read the entire judges ruling here.