My wife and I have lived in Issaquah Highlands for 10 and 8 years, respectively. For most of that time, we’ve been staring at a vast wasteland of dirt along Highlands Drive. Back in the late 1990s, Port Blakely told us, “You’re going to get a grocery store within the next year or two!” Oh boy! And for years, we’ve seen “Coming Soon!” signs telling us about a mythological High Streets retail area. Ten years later, we’re still waiting.

And now, with the proposed Park Pointe land swap, the City Council wants to put another big development in Issaquah Highlands. That is, more dirt to look at. And 40 acres of trees chopped down. And, one day, 1 million square feet of retail, the size of Bellevue Square. And apparently we’ll also get a food bank for low-income and no-income people mostly from outside Issaquah Highlands.

When we signed up for Issaquah Highlands, the grocery store and the rest of High Streets sounded great. We’ve been looking forward to it (and looking, and looking). But we didn’t sign up for High Street plus a Bellevue Square plus a food bank minus 40 acres of trees.

And what’s next? In 2012, is the council going to want to swap some more land, chop down some more trees, and push out the urban growth boundary some more, perhaps on the east side of Issaquah Highlands? And in 2015, will the council want to do the same on the north side of Issaquah Highlands?

I’ve got a better idea: Why don’t you leave Issaquah Highlands alone. Thanks.

– Matthew J. Barry

Issaquah