This unwise development is a plague in this area, too. Burien has
approved the destruction of 10 acres of old 2nd/3rd growth forest
contiguous with the Seahurst coastal forest park.......all to put up
hundreds of apartments, transient housing that does not contribute to
community stability. This kind of ravaging of urban forests is an
abomination that is incomprehensible in this day and time.
Really livid, me2
****************************************
Maureen Ellis, PhD, Research Scientist
Woods Lab, Toxicology Group at Roos 1, Box 354695
Lab/Office phone: 206-685-1938 Email: me2 at u.washington.edu
DEOHS, SPHCM, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
****************************************
Our lives are not measured in the breaths that we take, but in the moments
that take our breath away." -unknown

"*Intelligence* is what each of us has to work with;
*smart* is what we do with it!" -unknown

On Mon, 29 Sep 2003, Steve Taylor wrote:

> Tweeters,
>
> Once again the Spit at Semiahmoo is in danger. Trillium Corporation has
> announced a revised plan for an even larger development.
>
> Your help is needed to preserve this resource. Below is an email that I
> sent this morning for your information. You may send comments to
> rnelson at ci.blaine.wa.us or by snail mail to Russell Nelson, Community
> Planner, City of Blaine, 344 H Street, Blaine Washington, 98230.
>
> Thanks for your help!
>
> Steve Taylor
> Bellingham
>
> Fine photography available at
> http://www.sparkemeister.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Taylor [mailto:leftee at qwest.net]
> Sent: Monday, September 29, 2003 8:49 AM
> To: rnelson at ci.blaine.wa.us
> Subject: Semiahmoo Development
>
>
> Mr. Russell Nelson and the City Council of Blaine Washington,
>
> I recently received notice of Trillium Corporation's application for the
> "Seagrass Cottages Subdivision application to create 36 duplex lots on
> Semiahmoo Spit, City of Blaine."
>
> I cannot tell you how strenuously I object to this plan.
>
> First, after some public unrest over their original plan to build a 64 unit
> condominium project on 14 acres, Trillium now proposes to build 36 duplexes
> on 20.5 acres. This constitutes even more disruption to the unique,
> irreplaceable spit at Semiahmoo. This project would destroy 6.5 more acres
> of the spit and increase traffic and pollution from run-off etc by an extra
> 8 living units.
>
> As I mentioned in earlier communications to you, this area is a huge draw
> for wildlife and has the potential to be an even larger draw. As a resting
> place for migratory waterfowl, Semiahmoo Spit is a natural resource that
> should be preserved and made available to all.
>
> This mornings Washington Post has an article, available at
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6063-2003Sep26.html
> This article is a sterling example of how a resource such as Semiahmoo Spit
> can become a draw for environmentally responsible tourism. This is not
> merely a story about people being nice to birds. It is a story about
> business. The article states "According to the most recent U.S. Fish &
> Wildlife Service survey, in 2001 more than 18 million people traveled to
> bird-watch. Wildlife-watchers spent about $8.2 billion, the study concluded,
> with about $229 million dropped in Texas."
>
> Surely with $8.2 billion dollars at play, preservation of the Spit at
> Semiahmoo as a wildlife area is worth considering. If Trillium is allowed
> to go ahead with it's plans to bulldoze and develop the Spit, an important
> resource will be lost.
>
> I am personally a frequent visitor to Semiahmoo and Blaine. I enjoy
> observing nature and photographing it, from my kayak, on a bicycle and on
> foot. When I come to Blaine, even for the day, I spend money. I am not the
> only one. This proposed development would seriously impact my desire to
> visit. One of my photographs will give you a real sense of what I am
> writing about. Please take a moment to look at the photograph at
> http://www.sparkmeister.com/Gallery1/Snag-Sunset.htm
> This photo was taken from the southern edge of the Semiahmoo Marina parking
> lot. The proposed development would be in the lower foreground of this
> photo. Take a moment to imagine 36 duplex units in the lower foreground of
> the photo. I'm sure you'll agree that the beauty and serenity of this place
> would be forever destroyed.
>
> I urge you to share this information with all those involved in this
> decision and I urge all of you to give serious consideration to the valuable
> and fragile nature of this unique land form.
>
> Steve Taylor
> (address and phone deleted
>
>