Ten years ago, when the city of Sammamish was created, one of the biggest concerns of our city fathers at the time was to find a way to manage the intense growth that the King County had determined would come to this area. And they did their job well.

But, like the brooms and buckets that Mickey conjured up in the movie “Fantasia,” now the city council can’t seem to stop themselves from doing what they’ve always done and that’s develop, develop, develop.

Their latest mad scheme is to light and turf the ball fields at Beaver Lake Park and turn it into a “Regional Sports Complex.”

Never mind that the growth in Sammamish has all but stopped. Never mind that the Highlands just approved two new sports fields. Never mind that the citizens and current park users overwhelmingly oppose this development.

Now, what’s this project going to cost you? Millions.

This at a time when every homeowner I know is receiving, or planning to petition for, a lower tax assessment on their homes.

Maybe the city hasn’t figured it out yet, but a lower assessment will mean way less tax money to them and the reality is, there simply won’t be enough resources for a project like this and essential city services.

Oh, and who will be biggest beneficiaries of this new complex? Not Sammamish Little League, who will actually lose field space. The biggest winners on this deal will be regional sports teams that commute from elsewhere to use this park and don’t even live here. And you’ll pay the tab for the additional security, maintenance and road use.

Never mind that we moved here because we didn’t want to live in an over developed city. The magical brooms of the city have already decided to sweep more traffic, growth and cost into our city. And, like Mickey, apparently we’re powerless to stop it.

Ed Steenman

Sammamish