A gas station? Please say it ain’t so! Over a decade ago, many Issaquah residents questioned the wisdom of building an urban village upon densely forested hillsides that were riddled with wetlands and abutted the county’s rural border.

We weren’t opposed to “progress” or “new ideas.” We were concerned about damaging the natural systems that recharged the issaquah Valley aquifer – the blessed source of water for most of our community.

Despite environmental concerns, Issaquah Highlands gained support because of its promise to build a village where people would live, work and play.

It offered an alternative to our car-dependent culture.

Today, it’s disappointing that Highland’s residents still have to get into their cars to buy a loaf of bread. And now we learn of plans to build a gas station!

In addition to contamination and safety hazards (isn’t there a major earthquake fault line nearby?,) do we really want the glaring lights of a fossil fuel station blazing above the hillside 24/7?

At a time when new technologies race to replace the burning of fossil fuels, is a gas station the best a “green” development can offer? Please say it ain’t so!

Jerry Burns

Issaquah