Citizens of Black Diamond wake up! There’s a big train coming and it’s 10,000 cars long. I’m talking about the development planned by YarrowBay currently being considered for approval by our City Council.
I am one of the hundreds of very concerned Black Diamond area residents who has been attending the hearings and raising important issues and concerns wherever possible about the Yarrow Bay master planned developments.
My name is Lynne Downs. My husband and I recently moved to Covington from Post Falls, Idaho. My husband obtained a job with Costco Wholesale headquarters in Issaquah and I am a recovery room nurse at MultiCare Health System’s Allenmore Hospital and Baker Day Surgery. It was my desire to work in the Tacoma area as we did not wish the commute to Seattle.
As part of the urban growth plan, Black Diamond only needs to increase by 1,900 residences by the year 2022. Don’t be fooled by the slick attorneys for the developer. Let’s hold our City Council’s feet to the fire. Do the right thing for our city and our taxpayers. We don’t need to bankrupt our city and we certainly don’t need 6,800 new residences. We cannot support a population increase of 350 percent.
Last week Rep. (Geoff) Simpson was charged by the Seattle Attorney’s office with a gross misdemeanor involving domestic violence; this is not the first time he has shown a loss of control, quick temper and a lack of responsible and ethical behavior. Mr. Simpson does not deserve to represent the citizens of the 47th District.
I am writing to share my thoughts about the YarrowBay MPDs (master planned developments). I write from the position of being directly and personally impacted by the noise; indirectly impacted by the traffic, fiscal and environmental impacts.
After reading the June 29th article, “Black Diamond MPD Closed Record Hearings face challenging beginning” I couldn’t help but write in support of the proposed projects.
On Friday, June 25, 2010, local golfers took to the field to support the youth in our community at the 14th annual Greater Maple Valley Community Center and Maple Valley Rotary Golf for Kids Classic at Druids Glen Golf Course sponsored by Bob Bridge Toyota.
Over the last 14 years this tournament has raised over $100,000 for area youth programs and over $50,000 offered in college scholarships for Tahoma High School graduates.
As you are aware I have been a life-ling resident of this town, a member of this city’s first council and past mayor and was very involved in the original incorporation to create the city of Black Diamond. What is happening now often reminds me of what Black Diamond went through during its years of incorporation in 1959.
The success of the 12th annual Maple Valley Days Arts Festival was attributed to many people and entities. It was evident that when many people came together to support a good cause, wonderful things happened. 2000 visitors to the city’s beautiful Lake Wilderness Lodge viewed artwork from many talented local artists and heard the musical talents of local musicians – from teens to adults.
It was scary to read about three river rescues on our local rivers. As time goes on there will be more rescues. Here’s why.
There is a conflict between peoples’ desires for river adventure, and decisions made to increase fish populations. All official documents for salmon recovery in Washington say to add large woody debris for better fish habitat. Millions have already been spent to do this.
Please consider adjusting your meeting rules to offer the citizens a second opportunity to comment in all meetings. There is too much valuable input that can be given on the spot prudent to the current topic that is never received because the next opportunity to comment to the council is in another week. The council is asking questions during presentations and could get immediate responses if they were open to hearing from the citizens an additional time.
I wanted to acknowledge and give thanks to all who made the walkathon a success and who gave of their time and resources.
The Lake Wilderness Arboretum would like to thank all the volunteers who helped out at the Western Azalea Celebration May 19 and congratulate Patty Davis, past president, for being selected as this year’s Golden Maple Leaf Award winner for the city of Maple Valley.
This month the King County Council voted unanimously to require county agencies to publish what they call high value data to a new website. The one-stop data website will be where the public can go to access such information as crime statistics, transit data and construction schedules, wastewater and flood information or information on public parks.
I would like to clarify my position and the mischaracterization of my report at the May 24 board meeting as it relates to the videotaping of our Board of Commissioner meetings. For the record, as requested by the Commissioners, I provided a full assessment of pros and cons involved in the taping of meetings, and strongly recommended that the pros far outnumbered any cons.
I feel that Fred Meyer is not the best retailer for that area (Maple Valley). That is because of the relative close proximity of the Covington store. If the Covingtoon store wasn’t there I would welcome it with open arms. Unfortunately for the average man on the street, we do not know if any other retailer has been approached or approached us about this project. I think a Target store would be a better fit.
I think they should ban (fireworks) in residential areas. Last year was extremely dry. Someone should have stepped up and banned it last year. We had a lot of dry grass and trees and bushes.
When you or I were a kid we didn’t have these powerful fireworks like they do not.
The recent commentary by Brian Beckley (“Freedom for all who are here” May 14 edition) infuriated me to the point I had to write this. As the son of a legal immigrant who came through Ellis Island I am totally offended by his commentary.
Bicycle safety can save someone’s life
Several days ago my wife and I were walking on the pedestrian only path in Renton’s Coulon Park, bearing to the right hand side, when we were startled by a bicycle passing us without warning from behind, on our left, at about twenty miles an hour. Had my wife moved only several inches to her left, she would have been severely injured or worse by the bicyclist.
