August Update-
The Department of Planning and Development has
finished their examination of the School Districts Re-submitted plans.
The District resubmitted plans that changed how to count trees, which
then led to a "reduction" in the number of trees to be cut down. There
was "No Official" comment period. Questions regarding if this was a
"public" comment period were left unanswered. At this time the Seattle
School Districts proposal is to build a "west compressed version"
Removing 43-62 trees (again the count is illusive and must be read
carefully) from a total of 90 trees. Again half or more than half the
Northwest Grove is to be cut. There was a change in where the tree
grove "began" and the other considerations for allowing this decision
were based on the School Districts own School Design Team guidelines.
The May 7th, 2008 SEPA checklist had a footprint of 17,000+ feet the
Addendum SEPA June 2009 has a footprint of 18000+ feet. An increase in
1000 feet has been submitted in footprint size in the "West Compressed
Version". For more information "straight from DPD" please go to the
DPD August 13, 2009 decision found here. To compare the "new west compressed version" with the May 2008 version please go here where the May 7th 2008 SEPA checklist is. Please go here to find the June 2009 Addendum plus here to find the appendixes to the addendum. To find the City Hearing Examiners Decision regarding the Remand to DPD from the April 2009 appeal please go here.
Questions: Steve Zemke -206-366-0811
Volunteer: Shelly Leonard - 206-295-8338
Donations: Save the Trees-Seattle, %Steve Zemke, 2131 N 132nd Street, Seattle WA, 98133
Or:
UPDATE Sherry Carr sherry.carr@seattleschools.org Harium Martin-Morris harium.martin-morris@seattleschools.org Peter Maier peter.maier@seattleschools.org Cheryl Chow cheryl.chow@seattleschools.org Steve Sundquist steve.sundquist@seattleschools.org Mary Bass mary.bass@seattleschools.org Michael Debelle michael.debelle@seattleschools.org And one more thing, if you are able to donate for our appeal hearing fund Write to: DPD at 700 5th Avenue, STE 2000, P.O. Box 34019, Sherry Carr sherry.carr@seattleschools.org Harium Martin-Morris harium.martin-morris@seattleschools.org Peter Maier peter.maier@seattleschools.org Cheryl Chow cheryl.chow@seattleschools.org Steve Sundquist steve.sundquist@seattleschools.org Mary Bass mary.bass@seattleschools.org Michael Debelle michael.debelle@seattleschools.org
ON MAY 14, 2009 the Seattle School District asked the City Hearing Examiner for Reconsideration of her decision. The request mainly centered on the Ingraham Grove of Trees. According to the School District the Grove of Trees cannot be considered uncommon. And is not a rare plant association. Nor is it able to be called either of those things because it is not a perfect representation of those things. The School District is also threatening the City Hearing Examiner with the Continual Mowing of the Area, so it can never be a perfect representation of the plant association that the City protects. The continual mowing of the area will continue to damage the Madrone, Cedar and Douglas Firs trunks, and roots. If the mowing continues it will destroy parts of the understory. Once more the Seattle School District is proving that it has no morals or values. The School District is unethical and the School Board and Superintendent should be held accountable by the public for their blatant destruction of rare habitats. It is as if they are throwing natural diamonds into a grinder.
If you would like to help us in this battle, please write to the Seattle School Board, Ask to keep the Northwest Grove of Trees intact, request the needless mowing to cease, and request an end to the waste of taxpayer dollars. Move the project to another site on campus. Where the Portables are, or the Modular building that is to be replaced or the North lawn area are good examples.
Or save the tax payers more money and bring in new portables.
please scroll down to the donation button, and/or follow alternative instructions.
On May 4th the City Hearing Examiner remanded the Ingraham Project back to the Department of Planning and Development, we ask that once more, you write, expressing the need to retain ALL of the uncommon habitat at Ingraham High School. That ALL the Trees should be saved and the addition should be moved to a place outside of the grove.
Seattle WA 98124-4019
Regarding permit #3009549.
We also ask that you write to the SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMEBERS, expressing the need to keep the entire Northwest Grove. This is a unique and uncommon Grove of trees that can be used for educational purposes and should be viewed as an extended classroom. The addition can be built elsewhere on campus giving two learning facilities (the Northwest Grove and the New Addition). This is a chance for the School Board to show their environmental awareness and become stewards of the natural resources that are a part of the Seattle School District. Please email them.
April has come and is traveling past way to fast. As of today, April 25, 2009 we have not heard from the City Hearing Examiners office regarding the verdict of the 3-day hearing on April 1, 2, and 3.
It has been a busy month, with the Appeal Hearing regarding the Department of Planning and Developments decision for conditional SEPA approval, which was to remove 72 trees, which include 100 foot Douglas,Western Red Cedar and Madrone. The DPD did not take into account many aspects of what the Ingraham Trees do, and are. Therefore, Save The Trees-Seattle, had to spend 3 days explaining and bringing in Witness, after Witness to verify how important and unique the Ingraham Urban Forest is.
And now we wait. As we wait, which seems to be a forever mode. We must plan for what will happen next. IT is a known, that very few, if any of the DPD decisions regarding trees have been overturned by a City Hearing Examiner. Therefore we don't expect a favorable verdict from the City and are planning to move into the next aspect of this battle. An appeal hearing in The King County Superior Court.
We are out of the RED and we are into the GREEN!!! We have payed off the debt to our attorney. We are now ready to go--should we need to Appeal to Superior Court!!!
The other EXCITING new is that we have a DONATION BUTTON.
Yep, we have a DONATION BUTTON. This is to make it easier to donate, no longer do you need stamps, or envelopes, or checks...just push the button and follow the easy steps.
So, HELP the INGRAHAM TREES and DONATE to day.
We need to be ready, the School District is on the move.
Oh, and if you still want to do it with envelopes and checks:
Make the Check payable to: Save The Trees-Seattle,
And mail it to:
Steve Zemke
2131 N 132nd ST
Seattle WA 98133
Please write to the Seattle School Board and Superintendent,
Asking them to move the Building for the Ingraham addition to the North Lawn, and SAVE THE INGRAHAM TREES.
Students at Ingraham High School deserve an education that includes the Environmental studies necessary to keep our Emerald City Green.
The Students deserve examples set forth by the School Board and Superintendent that follow the true intent the Mayor of Seattle and the City Council have for the Emerald City of Seattle.
To remove the Ingraham forest, when alternative building sites exist is to say that the Environment is NOT a concern to the Seattle School District. This action promotes an attitude toward City Government, where in a School District does NOT need to follow the desires of the City, the plans for the City toward the future or the values of the City in which it resides.
A School District is to be an Active member in the Neighborhood, Community and City in which it resides. Each and every time the Seattle School District damages a neighborhood park, stream or green space it damages the City, the Community and the Neighbors, it so desperately needs for its own survival.
The State of Washington, in a desire to promote high standards for education, gives to School Districts extra weight in decisions regarding any proposals made by a District.
With this extra weight comes an extra moral, and ethical responsibility by the School District to be above reproach, fair, and knowledgeable in its decisions. To be callous and uncaring toward a topic now swirling our globe that is as important as global warming and carbon emissions is to take advantage regarding this law. Such is and has been the intent used by the Seattle School District.
In spite of testimony, common knowledge, scientific articles and citizen concerns the School District has continued to move ahead with a project that will kill 75 year old, 100 ft Native Washington trees.
A side note to the trees is the reality that the Seattle School District is in debt by $25 million, has an overabundance of classroom space in High Schools and still plans to build this addition onto a 50 year old High School.
The weight has been given to the School District to continue the project as they have planned. Once more a community loses vital resources. Once more the School District has played the trump card “It is for the students, the project must go on”. Once more the students are taught that values can be covered up by avoiding the obvious, morals are unwritten and not of consequence, ethics are only necessary at the lowest standard of a profession.
The example is what the student follows, not the words.
Please write to the Seattle School Board and Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson in support of Saving the Ingraham Trees.
superintendent@seattleschools.org Seattle School Board Members:
Sherry Carr sherry.carr@seattleschools.org
Harium Martin-Morris harium.martin-morris@seattleschools.org
Peter Maier peter.maier@seattleschools.org
Cheryl Chow cheryl.chow@seattleschools.org
Steve Sundquist steve.sundquist@seattleschools.org
Mary Bass mary.bass@seattleschools.org
Michael Debelle michael.debelle@seattleschools.org
