The Washington State Supreme Court has denied the City of Seattle’s request to review a ruling involving its plan to redevelop the Fort Lawton base with more than 200 units of housing. That means the City will have to conduct a state environmental review (SEPA) before moving forward with the project.
Aerial view of Ft. Lawton redevelopment plans
The Magnolia Neighborhood Planning Council won a lawsuit forcing the city to conduct the state environmental review, arguing that a plan to build a mixed-use subdivision threatens a colony of great blue herons and other wildlife and habitats at the 29-acre site next to Discovery Park. The City said that SEPA shouldn’t be required because the plan will still have to be approved at the federal level and undergo an analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act.
“It is especially gratifying to know that through this lawsuit the Magnolia Neighborhood Planning Council has been able to honor the covenant that the present stakeholders in Discovery Park have with the many people in the past who fought hard and long to ensure first off that former military land was turned over to the city and became a park, and then through their carefully detailed planning and implementation, established Discovery Park as a prominent recreational site and nature preserve,” said MNPC founder Elizabeth Campbell in a news release.
We have messages in to city staff for their comment and to ask about plans on moving forward. You can read more about the redevelopment plan here.
There’s no wrecking ball, but heavy machinery is now turning some old Navy housing at Fort Lawton into piles of debris. Work got underway this week to demolish 66 units at the Capehart site. It’s the next step in the process that will eventually transfer the property over to the City of Seattle as an expansion of Discovery Park.
As one member of the demolition crew took down the old structures, another member stood by with water to keep the dust from spreading.
“All of these homes had asbestos and lead-based paint,” said Michael Nanney, vice president of Forest City Military Communities. “The very first thing we did was abated all the hazardous materials.”
The demolition work should be wrapped up in September, and the city may take ownership of the property by the end of the year. The parks deparment tells us after the property is purchased the site will be returned to its natural state as a meadow, consistent with the Discovery Park master plan.
The Army is concerned about recent late night activity at Fort Lawton. They say there have been off-hours, unauthorized gatherings in the Fort Lawton parking lots that resulted in vandalism and trash being left in the area. Residents who live in the area of Fort Lawton are asked to contact Seattle police (call 911) if they are aware of any unauthorized activities occurring there.
The Army says that adding to the problem, the original grounds maintenance contractor went out of business in mid-contract. A new contract was awarded in mid-July and clean up and routine maintenance resumed this month.
Fort Lawton will remain occupied by Army Reserve units until 2011. The city is appealing the King County Superior Court decision on the lawsuit regarding the Fort Lawton Redevelopment Plan. A decision from the Washington State Court of Appeals is expected late this year or early next year.
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.
UPDATE: The group reports that they reached the initial fundraising goal. This means that they will move forward with filing a lawsuit against the city for violating SEPA regulations. They say this is just the first step and they are asking for further contributions for legal proceedings. More information here.
The Magnolia Neighborhood Planning Council (MNPC) is not giving up the fight for the Army Reserve Center at Discovery Park. Last week the Seattle City Council voted in favor of the redevelopment plan for 216 homes, including 86 units for the homeless, on the site being vacated by the Army.
The MNPC is now asking for donations to fund a lawsuit against the city. They want the land returned to Discovery Park, as they believe the park master plan intended. Here is the message we just received from Robin Bud at the MNPC:
While the total cost of the lawsuit might be substantial, it will probably only cost $5000-$10,000 for the first stage. We need to know by Wednesday (October 1) whether there’s enough support to get this suit started. If we can’t raise over $5000 by Wednesday evening, we’ll be forced to tell our attorney to drop the case.
Please let us know whether, and how much, you can contribute. Any contribution you make will be used only for attorney’s fees. You can make checks payable to MNPC, and you can mail them to MNPC, Box 271, 3213 W Wheeler, Seattle, 98199. Please shoot me an email if you mail a check so I’ll know where we stand at robinobudd@gmail.com.
If we fail to raise $5,000 by Wednesday evening, we will return your checks to you. We’ve raised $1600 so far (not counting money already spent). I believe we have a very good chance of prevailing in this legal case.
Richard Aramburu is the attorney working with the group. He says that while there are many factors involved in estimating the cost of litigation he believes that the total cost would be in the vicinity of $30,000-$40,000. The lawsuit against the city needs to be filed in King County Superior Court by October 13.
The decision by the City Council to redevelop Fort Lawton into housing for the homeless gets a big thumbs up from the Seattle PI today.
The opinion piece calls the decision ‘building justice’ and states that the city did the right thing by approving the plan that will put 85 units of housing for the homeless in the Army Reserve Center at the corner of West Government Way and 36th Ave West. The paper says that providing housing for the homeless in a good neighborhood works well.
I guess we are going to find out if that is true. Thoughts?
UPDATE: Mayor Nickels applauds the work of the council in this news release saying the Fort Lawton plan will provide much needed homeless housing for families and seniors in a mixed use community.
UPDATE: The council just voted to approve the proposed Fort Lawton redevelopment. Councilperson Tom Rasmussen told the council that the city held 18 community meetings on this plan and it addresses the major concerns. Here are the comments from a couple of the city council members before the unanimous vote to approve.
Sally Clark: “This is good legislation. It balances what we are looking for. We know that a number of folks are not happy with this plan; they would like to see the property added in its entirety to Discovery Park. I don’t read the Discovery Park Master Plan in the same way. In 2008 I think there is a different reality as far as 8000 homeless people on the street at night in King County. There is a balance here with this becoming a well developed, well designed and well integrated part of the Magnolia community.”
Richard Conlin: “This is a challenging situation. Our goal was to try to pull in different perspectives and create a new community. We are carefully crafting this plan and we will be creating a couple hundred units of housing. It should be very compatible with the community around it. We hope this is accepted. If not acceptable to the federal government, they can send to a private developer. We’ve got a good policy here.”
Tom Burgess: “This is a great plan and good legislation. I have received many statements of support from the Magnolia neighborhood, even immediate neighbors living by the park.”
Prior to the vote, opponent Elizabeth Campbell told the council that the process was distressing and the countil was just going through the motions of listening to the community. She said the Discovery Park Master Plan should not have been disregarded.
As we reported in our previous posting, the Magnolia Neighborhood Planning Council tried to stop the process to no avail. They submitted a request seeking an extension, along with a request for a stay in the legislative process the City Council is engaged in to approve a plan for the Army base. They claim there are problems with the plan being considered and the City ignored the Discovery Park Master Plan
With two big meetings at City Hall coming up in the next week regarding the plan for Fort Lawton, the Magnolia Neighborhood Planning Council is attempting to slow down or stop the process.
They have submitted a request to the City of Seattle, the Mayor and the City Council seeking an extension of the proceedings, along with a request for a stay in the legislative process the City Council is engaged in to approve a plan for the Army base.
They claim there are a number of problems with the plan being considered and the City ignored the directives of the Discovery Park Master Plan which designates that all former Fort Lawton property becomes part of the park. They also accuse the sity of conducting an “anti-NIMBY campaign” against citizens concerned about the fate of the property.
The Army Reserve Center at the corner of 36th Ave. West and West Government Way will be closing by 2011. Under the plan being considered, Fort Lawton could be redeveloped with existing buildings on site converted to a outpatient Veterans Administration Mental Health Clinic, 55 senior units for chronically homeless Native Americans, 30 townhomes for homeless Native American families, 6 units for Habitat for Humanity and 125 market rate single family homes and townhomes for a total of 216 new units of housing.
Here is part of the note we received today:
Dear Friends of Magnolia,
I’d like to personally ask you to contact the Mayor and City Council and tell them that you support an extension and a stay in the proceedings. There is to be a first city council vote on this matter this Thursday (9/18), at noon when the housing committee is voting to pass the redevelopment plan to the full city council, so it is important to get send notes of support prior to that time, and then again next week, prior to September 22nd.
Elizabeth Campbell/Magnolia Neighborhood Planning Council
You can contact Elizabeth at 206-769-8459 or via email at info2@magnolianpc.com. If you want to share your opinions on this prior to the meetings, email Council President Richard Conlin at Richard.Conlin@seattle.gov.
Update: The full City Council vote on the Fort Lawton plan has now been set for Monday, September 22 at 2pm in council chambers.
There is a big meeting on the Fort Lawton redveolpment plan this Thursday, September 18 at 12pm at City Hall.
The Housing and Economic Development Committee will take action on the proposal to redevelop the Fort Lawton Army Reserve Center adjacent to Discovery Park. The full City Council vote is then expected by the end of the month. Once the City Council approves the plan, it will go to the Army and HUD in Washington DC for final approval. That process could take up to one year.
If you want to read the draft redevelopment plan, click here.
The Army Reserve Center at the corner of 36th Ave. West and West Government Way will be closing by 2011. Under the plan being considered, Fort Lawton could be redeveloped with existing buildings on site converted to a outpatient Veterans Administration Mental Health Clinic, 55 senior units for chronically homeless Native Americans, 30 townhomes for homeless Native American families, 6 units for Habitat for Humanity and 125 market rate single family homes and townhomes for a total of 216 new units.
The meeting will be held in Council Chambers at 600 4th Ave.
First we learned that Szmania’s signs have been stolen and now we hear that signs put up by the Sustainable Neighbors Coalition, the group fighting the pace of plans to build housing for the homeless and market-rate housing on Fort Lawton property, had their signs stolen too.
According to the Magnolia News the signs were stolen from 15 yards along 36th Avenue West between West Emerson and West Lawton streets.
The public hearing will take place on Thursday Sept. 4th at 5:30p.m. in Council Chambers at 600 4th Ave. The council could vote on the proposal as early as September 22.
Under the plan being considered, Fort Lawton could be redeveloped with 216 homes, including 85 units for the homeless. The Army Reserve Center at the corner of 36th Ave. West and West Government Way will be closing by 2011.
The process of determining what to do with that prime real estate has been under way for about three years. Concerns have been raised about the density, traffic and availability of services for the homeless and seniors who would move in.
Don’t forget that tonight (Thursday) is your chance to give your input on the Fort Lawton proposal. The hearing starts at 5:30pm at City Hall at 600 4th Ave.
The primary purpose of the hearing tonight is to gather public opinion about the plan that could put up to 216 homes, including housing for the homeless, at the current site of the Army Reserve Center at Discovery Park.
This week is your chance to share your thoughts about the plan to redevelop the Fort Lawton Army Reserve Center adjacent to Discovery Park.
The area that currently houses buildings and parking lots could be redeveloped with 216 homes, including 85 units for the homeless, under the plan being considered. The Ft. Lawton Army Reserve Center at the corner of 36th Ave. West and West Government Way will be closing by 2011.
The process of determining what to do with that prime real estate has been under way for about three years. Concerns have been raised about the density, traffic and availability of services for the homeless and seniors who would move in.
On Wednesday, August 20th at 9:30a.m. the Housing and Economic Development Committee will disucss the plan.
On Thursday August 21st at 5:30p.m. the full city council will hold a public hearing.
If you want to testify, a sign-up sheet will be available outside Council Chambers one-half hour before the public hearing. All of the meetings are held at City Hall at 600 4th Ave. on the 2nd floor.
You have many opportunities to let the city know what you think about the plans for the Fort Lawton Army Reserve Center in Discovery Park.
The area that currently houses buildings and parking lots could be redeveloped with 216 homes, including 85 for homeless people, under a plan currently being considered. The Ft. Lawton Army Reserve at the corner of 36th Ave. West and West Government Way will be closing by 2011.
A council committee had its first look at the proposal this week and will hold several meetings in coming weeks, including two public hearings, to discuss details. If approved by the council, the plan would be sent to the Defense and Housing and Urban Development departments for final OK. The Seattle Housing Authority would be the lead developer.
The process has been under way for about three years. Concerns have been raised about the density, traffic and availability of services for the homeless and for senior citizens who would move into the homes.
Public comment is accepted at the following city council meetings. All of the meetings are held at 600 4th Ave. on the 2nd floor.
August 20th – housing committee discussion (9:30am)
August 21st – Public hearing (5:30pm)
September 3rd – Housing committee discussion (9:30am)
September 4th – Public Hearing (5:30pm)
September 18th – Housing Committee Final Vote (noon)
September 22 or 29 – Full Council Vote (2:00pm)
