Although the state doesn’t require a new Environmental Critical Areas (ECA) update until 2015, the Sammamish Planning Commission would like to get it done by the end of the year.
You would never know it by the glacial pace of the commission’s Feb. 16 meeting, which was basically two hours of setting the ground rules.
The good news is, the city has hired a consultant to provide the commission with best available science, since the underlying goal of a new ECA is to protect the environment.
The City Council authorized the city manager to enter into a contract with AMEC Environment and Infrastructure, Inc., for $77,000 plus a $20,000 contingency. The ECA looks at wetlands, streams, erosion hazards, landslide areas, seismic hazard areas, steep slopes and wildlife corridors.
AMEC was selected by city staff and two community members, according to planning commission chair Joe Lipinsky.
Speaking on behalf of Citizens for Sammamish at the Feb. 16 meeting, Bob Sorensen noted that nearly half of the land area of Sammamish is encumbered by some critical areas.
The planning commission had many concerns. One is that the fact-gathering process might drive them in a direction they don’t anticipate. Another concern was including the public as much as possible, and remaining accessible and transparent throughout the entire procedure.
Commissioner Mahbubul Islam said transparency should be a goal, as should fairness.
The commission’s ultimate goal is to present their statement of facts pertinent to the ECA to the City Council when they are done, with no surprises.
Commissioner Michael Luxenberg said if they present accurate data, there should be no need to go back to the drawing board.
The next meeting of the planning commission is March 1 at 6:30 p.m. in City Council chambers. Anyone who wishes to speak on the ECA will be given the opportunity.
Lipinsky said to expect much longer meetings – the commission meets every first and third Thursdays. The public can also request updates by e-mail by visiting www.ci.sammamish.wa.us
