Letter to the Editor: The folly of Shoreline Public Works
Sunday, December 17, 2017
To the Editor:
Are you concerned about how Shoreline is using your tax dollars? Here’s an example of what is happening right now. If you don’t like it, you can help change it. The intersection at Linden and Firlands Way is being redesigned.
With the redesign, the taxpayer-funded rain garden has been almost completely destroyed to make way for more pavement. This has put a one-hundred year old Douglas fir and a 50 year old Western red cedar at risk. There has to be a walkway within a couple of feet of the trunks of these two trees. The required curb reaches more than halfway into the dripline before the sidewalk can even begin. The City is arbitrarily requiring a standard cement sidewalk be installed under these trees.
There will be one of two outcomes: 1) the trees will survive; the tree roots regrow to restore the tree’s anchor and break the sidewalk within the next ten years; taxpayers will pay to replace it, or 2) the trees will fail; taxpayers will pay to remove the trees and pay to replace them with “approved street trees” resulting in loss of more native tree canopy caused by a City which professes to preserve and protect our canopy.
There is a third alternative. Since taxpayers will have to spend money on this redesign either way, why not make it a win-win-win for the walkway, the trees, and the taxpayers and install an alternative walkway? Doesn’t it make sense to invest a small amount now for the long-term benefits of avoiding the cost of cement sidewalk replacement and/or the trees?
Contractors will be compacting the soil (and the tree roots) beginning Monday at 7AM. If you think this is a poor use of your tax dollars please tell City Council members now. It’s your money.
Boni Biery
There is a third alternative. Since taxpayers will have to spend money on this redesign either way, why not make it a win-win-win for the walkway, the trees, and the taxpayers and install an alternative walkway? Doesn’t it make sense to invest a small amount now for the long-term benefits of avoiding the cost of cement sidewalk replacement and/or the trees?
Contractors will be compacting the soil (and the tree roots) beginning Monday at 7AM. If you think this is a poor use of your tax dollars please tell City Council members now. It’s your money.
Boni Biery
Shoreline
Council Members
croberts@shorelinewa.gov
swinstead@shorelinewa.gov
whall@shorelinewa.gov
dmcconnell@shorelinewa.gov
kmcglashan@shorelinewa.gov
jsalomon@shorelinewa.gov
kscully@shorelinewa.gov
City Manager dtarry@shorelinewa.gov
City Engr tjuhnke@shorelinewa.gov
Council Members
croberts@shorelinewa.gov
swinstead@shorelinewa.gov
whall@shorelinewa.gov
dmcconnell@shorelinewa.gov
kmcglashan@shorelinewa.gov
jsalomon@shorelinewa.gov
kscully@shorelinewa.gov
City Manager dtarry@shorelinewa.gov
City Engr tjuhnke@shorelinewa.gov
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2 comments:
thank you for this. we lost a beautiful poplar when shoreline buried a ditch and (inadvertently?) created a shoulder that now hosts stolen cars and junk that the neighbor won't pay to have disposed - eventually the city cleans it up - your tax $ at work.
I hope my comment can be posted. I support Boni’s suggestion for a “third alternative.” Shoreline these trees are the City’s responsibility. Creating a sustainable boardwalk alternative is not rocket science. We have done these special circumstances before to protect valuable trees. We have done silk art projects at Kruckeberg Botanical Garden. Let’s do the right thing!
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