By Joe Scordino
October 28, 2024
Hearing Examiner Olbrecht:
This is in response to the Hearing Examiner Notice on the Edmonds City Website.
The Edmonds Environmental Council, a non-profit local organization for protection of the natural and human environment, requests that you revisit the public comments, both verbal and written, on the initial Application for Reasonable Economic Use Variance for 963 Main Street and DENY the request for reconsideration or any followup application for development in this critical area whether it involves a smaller ‘footprint’ or not.
Development at 963 Main Street will adversely impact the critical area wetland and its ecological connections both downhill and underground (hydrologically) to Shell Creek which is a severely impaired salmon bearing stream due to effects of past development. The site is also surrounded by City property purchased explicitly for preservation of this natural area and to keep it from being developed. ANY development at 963 Main Street will adversely impact adjacent (and continuous) critical area wetlands and an adjacent critical area salmon stream.
The property owner DOES HAVE a reasonable economic use of the property and that is to work with the City of Edmonds on obtaining a grant (or grants) for the City to use in purchasing the property at a reasonable price for preservation of the critical area.