Op-Ed: Deborah Buck vs City of Shoreline and CRISTA Ministries

Photo by Afia Menke, ND MA

Guest Editorial by Afia Menke, ND MA

On Tuesday evening, there appeared a beautiful rainbow in the gray, sun-lit sky. As I stopped to take a photo of the glorious colors, my neighbor, Deborah Buck, pulled up along side of my car. She asked me, “Do you know why there is such a beautiful rainbow? It’s because I won my case, I just found out!”

Deborah was referring to her suit against The City of Shoreline and Crista Ministries over a proposed Crista Ministries Master Plan.

Previous to her case, many Hillwood residents surrounding Crista Ministries fought with Crista and The City of Shoreline about the proposed Master Plan which would increase impervious surface area (via increased pavement for parking and buildings), increase the traffic flow in our tiny dead-end cul de sac by an estimated 1000 (+) trips /day, level 100(+) trees in Pilieated Woodpecker habitat, further disturb underground springs built over and damaged years ago and potentially destroy the historic sanatorium building on the Crista Ministries property. Residents attended City Council meetings, Planning Commission meetings, attended Crista “community” meetings, wrote letters and made many public comments.

The City of Shoreline curiously seemed to collaborate with Crista on moving the Master Plan forward and the residents came away feeling thwarted by the way communication with the residents unfolded both by Crista Ministries and The City of Shoreline. To this date, many residents do not understand why The City of Shoreline, in particular, refused to honor our letters, comments, concerns and queries.

Deborah took Crista Ministries and The City of Shoreline to court and Deborah Buck lost her case in a lower court. At that point, I admit, I felt defeated. I thought taking both The City of Shoreline and Crista Ministries to court was too big of a battle for a little band of neighbors. I lowered my head, surrendered and instead I focused my efforts on other community development activities.

But Deborah Buck valiantly pressed on. She appealed her case to The Court of Appeals of the State of Washington with the help of her brother, Peter Buck, a well-known attorney. She felt that the City of Shoreline and Crista Ministries should have considered public comments in a more honoring way.

As a result of Deborah’s tenacity and passion that The City of Shoreline and Crista Ministries do the right thing, The Court of Appeals of the State of Washington ruled in Deborah’s favor, reversing the lower court’s decision. The Court of Appeals told The City of Shoreline and Crista Ministries that they must take into account all of the residents’ concerns, comments and letters before they press on with the Master Plan. This means, an Environmental Impact Statement will almost certainly be performed before implementing the “grand” Master Plan. In essence, this will either slow the destruction/construction of the Crista Master Plan or better yet, end it. We can only hope for the latter.

Deborah Buck and our citizen comments prevailed. We feel heard and vindicated. Maybe, we even saved our small cul de sac village, the Pilieated Woodpecker habitat and trees, the underground steams, the historic building and the peace of our neighborhood.

I feel taller since Deborah told me her good news. Instead of driving into my cul de sac dreading the day construction will commence, I think about the rainbow over King’s Elementary as a sign that our justice system can work and that neighbors, especially determined neighbors can make a difference.

This is one victory our neighborhood will celebrate. Thank you, Deborah Buck.

Photo by Afia Menke, ND MA