Save The Trees

Happenings

2010-02-06T15:04:00.000-08:00

February 6, 2010

Today, as I walked through the open gate. I realized that spring had brought new plants, young plants to the NW Grove. I also realized that once more Madrone had been destroyed….my heart was saddened at this discovery. I took pictures, carefully stepped through the grass and recorded the plants that are alive and well. My picture album of this long journey will not be published until after the final hearing and decision regarding the Northwest Grove. As it has been developing…It has told and interesting tale.
As time has passed my anger comes and goes. It is always sparked anew when I realize that the tactics of the School District to win an argument is to cheat. Destroying any form of evidence, removing any of the markings for protecting rare and uncommon plant growth is cheating. And if those who are in high places who have the power to protect do not protect the NW Grove until a hearing can happen, how can it be judged fairly? It should not take going to court on a regular basis or calling an attorney to ask that the grove be protected. Even walking through a gate and recording the conditions of the grove should not need to be a regular process. But without that process, plants are not shown to be alive or even present before mowing occurs or a truck backs in or some other permanent damage is done. It is also a costly drag on our courts, our school budget and our personal budget to deal with protection on a day to day basis.
It brings about a question in my mind, for whom is the Temporary Restraining Order pertaining to? …thinking for a moment I realized the School District is who is to stay out of the Grove. I can go in and not violate the order, but the School District violates the order every time it enters the Northwest Grove. But truly the real answer is the gate should not be left open. Recording by pictures should be permitted, but not trucks, mowers, and destructive actions…tennis balls were found meaning others had been in there also, the general public. Some of the neighbors have spoken freely about the area being used as a park, it had places to walk areas to rest and things to learn. It also was connected to a large area where people and their dogs could go without disturbing others. But there were defined trails for that activity. So I must again ask myself: with a 6 foot high cyclone fence, opened to the most traveled side of the school, and especially open to students…why is it there? Who is it protecting the Northwest Grove from…the District or the Neighbors who want to save the Northwest Grove and the rare plant habitat? Since the fence is open to the Field, Track and Parking lot and the doors to the school I can only determine, it is not the School District that the NW Grove is being protected from. The School District has full access at anytime.
Has the School District the “right” to say no one can enter school grounds? The Board believes it can declare this. Thus all schools can be closed to the public. What about the area surrounding the school? The area where there is grass and trees, football fields and track are these also “NO TRESPASSING” areas? Or is this a reserved status when the District wants to have their own way and make it difficult for others to present truth?
Oh, so many questions came to mind today as I was taking pictures and the Fire Truck drove by and honked. I don’t know what that means…but I am sure I will find out.

NOVEMBER? ALREADY?

2009-11-05T01:27:00.000-08:00

Ingraham Trees..still growing

WOW!
IT IS NOVEMBER!!!!

October started with fire:
A pre-hearing conference, dates for a new appeal hearing,
Lining up witnesses, finding $$$, all an uproar…

SWOOSH…a ruling, a surprise ruling
The City Hearing Examiner sent the entire project back to the Department of Planning and Development…heads spun…smiles appeared, hearts beat normal.

The Seattle School District and the Department of Planning and Development had NOT allowed or provided for an OFFICIAL COMMENT PERIOD on the new proposal. The new proposal called the “west compressed version” had not been publicized on a Land Use Notice, nor was it given the standard comment period as required by CITY LAWS…
The School District and DPD tried to be sneaky, but it didn’t work!

NOW, it is NOVEMBER, and the LAND USE NOTICE (MUP board) has appeared. The Permit # is 3009549, the project appears to be the same one as was presented in August/September to the DPD and uses the same SEPA Checklist and Addendum.

Sooo, for those who are the Ingraham Trees Faithful Guardians, it is once more time to write to the DPD to express the multitude of reasons to keep the Northwest Grove.
I would argue that it is a habitat area for local wildlife, year round and migrating, I would also argue that it is a rare plant association less than 2% of the trees in the City are Conifer—and native plants attract native wildlife. It is a pocket park for the neighborhood, adding a green space in an area rapidly being overtaken by developers. These trees are a natural filtration system for air and water…saving the City $$$ when it comes to drainage costs..(cleaning water and taking stress off of the drainage system); healthcare costs (filtering pollutants from air), recreational (to turn a 3 acre parking lot into a park will cost the City over 8 Million in Northgate).

There is one more point to be made in this long journey. The Seattle School District starts with the belief, and statement that the Northwest Grove of Trees, on the Ingraham High School Campus is not Environmentally Important. The official Designation given by the School District is “Designation of Non-Significance”. The Seattle School Districts Definition and Designation is accepted by the DPD as accurate. Because of this, it MUST be emphatically emphasized that the Northwest Grove of Trees, known as the Ingraham Trees IS Environmentally Important, and should be given a “Designation of Significance”. The plant association and the wildlife it supports was recognized as important, and protected by City Code in the City Hearing Examiners ruling listed below.

The more City rules you can quote, the better….

The DPD on their website gives the following suggestions for making comments:
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Notices/Public_Comment/How_To_Comment/default.asp#Tips

Here is the permit website:http://web1.seattle.gov/DPD/permitstatus/Project.aspx?id=3009549.
Here is the Hearing Examiners Decision from the City of Seattle Remanding the project back to DPD for evaluation of the Environment: http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s1=&s2=ingraham&s3=&S4=&Sect4=AND&l=20&Sect3=PLURON&Sect5=HEAR1&Sect6=HITOFF&d=HEAR&p=1&u=/%7Epublic/HEAR1.htm&r=1&f=G
Here is the environmental checklist for the project:
http://www.seattleschools.org/area/facilities/BEXIII/Ingraham/2nd_revision_IngrahamSEPAChecklist.pdf
Here is the addendum to the environmental checklist:
http://bex.seattleschools.org/docs/ingraham/Ingraham_SEPA_Addendum_06102009_Checklist.pdf
Here is the environmental policies and SEPA laws for Seattle:
http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s1=25.05&s2=&S3=&Sect4=AND&l=20&Sect1=IMAGE&Sect3=PLURON&Sect5=CODE1&d=CODE&p=1&u=/%7Epublic/code1.htm&r=1&Sect6=HITOFF&f=G

The Design Team Guidelines for Seattle Public Schools:
http://www.seattleschools.org/area/facilities/DesignStandards/SchoolDesignManual.pdf

Happenings

2009-09-16T22:39:00.000-07:00

September is almost gone.
Trees are being pruned, leaves are turning color.
Summer hasn't left, but fall isn't far.

Ingraham has surfaced once more.
The School District has supplied a new "plan".
The Department of Planning and Development approved the plan.
Save the Trees-Seattle, once more appealed the decision.
An Attorney, Keith Scully of Gendler and Mann defended the trees. He questioned the Department of Planning and Developments decision to NOT have a comment period from the public on the School Districts "West compressed version".

The Hearing Examiner for the City of Seattle once more found the
Department of Planning and Development in error.

Again, the District must post signs, the Department of Planning and Development must allow a comment period from the public and then decide.

When Save the Trees- Seattle, finds out more details, they will be published here.

So stay in touch, more info will be on the way soon.
In this hot and cold saga of the District vx. Ingraham Trees.

Fireworks in the Ingraham Trees

2009-07-04T18:03:00.000-07:00

This past month has been long…
June has had no rest for the Save The Trees-Seattle crew.
There was an Urban Forestry Workshop (video)
There have been meetings for a Tree Commission with the City Council,
More meetings and comments for a permanent Tree Ordinance,
Town Hall gatherings with City Council Leaders and some School Board Directors,
All of this is to save the trees in Seattle.

And then there is the Seattle School District, and the Seattle School Board.
Where we travel back to the beginning…how Save The Trees-Seattle came into existence.

Yep, that good ole School Board is at it again. When Save the Trees-Seattle takes a deep breath and thinks there is light at the end of the long tunnel for Ingraham High School the School District tries to blow up the tunnel.

In May of 2009 the City of Seattle’s Hearing Examiner remanded the decision to build in the grove back to the Department of Planning and Development. With the express definition of the Northwest Grove of trees as being a rare plant association that must be saved under the Seattle City Municipal code (SMC’s).

We at Save the Trees-Seattle had a glimmer of hope. But the SMC allows for mitigation. And the Seattle School Board has asked for the mitigation of reducing the footprint into the Northwest Grove and removing 29 trees + Madrone…supposedly dead.

Save The Trees-Seattle, and other appellants went back to the keyboards, the computers, and the Seattle Municipal Codes to express to the Department of Planning and Development why the correct and most appropriate mitigation is to move the proposed addition to the North Lawn where very little damage will occur to the Environment. We await DPD's 2nd decision.

IN THE MEAN TIME:

On July 1 the School District, Save The Trees-Seattle, Urban Forest Stakeholders, neighbors, Seattle Department of Transportation Arborist, BEX Manager, DKA representative, School District arborist, and 2 Facilities (maintenance) staff, went into the Northwest Grove.

Why did we go? Because someone in the infinite wisdom of the School District decided that the way to get rid of the rare plant association was to declare it a fire hazard…and have it mowed. So the Fire Department accommodated the School Districts request and sent out the order…oddly specifying only the Northwest Grove as needing to be mowed. Nothing was said about the North Lawn which was just as tall with grass or the Ditch surrounding the Grove. An entire afternoon was spent marking and taking pictures of the rare plants in the Northwest Grove…we also found a young flicker in a nest…

And of course, being in proximity to each other…the School District reps and the Tree Advocates got into some Fireworks of their own---relatively only sparklers compared to what awaits in court.

The end results were…no mowing under the Trees, mowing around areas of native rare plants inside the 6 foot fence and leaving the 3 foot high grass surrounding the OUTSIDE of the fence NEXT TO THE ROAD not mowed. Why the Seattle Fire Department didn’t want the ditch mowed, where cigarettes, fireworks and other flammables are easily thrown from moving cars is beyond me. But the rare plants inside the 6 foot fence had to be mowed???? The Plants and Trees that are protected by a Temporary Restraining Order had to be mowed due to a fire hazard? What is with that? Makes you wonder what is really happening at City Hall.

Tree Ordinance

2009-02-23T15:26:00.000-08:00

Today is an Exciting, Amazing and Important day.
The work isn't finished, only begun.

The Seattle City Council passed an Interim Emergency Tree Ordinance. With a 8-1 vote. http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?d=CBOR&s1=116404.cbn.&Sect6=HITOFF&l=20&p=1&u=/~public/cbor2.htm&r=1&f=G

This is only a beginning, a band aid in the big picture, but it is a step.
More than what was in the Seattle Codes, and a step in the right direction.
We applaud the Council for their decision, vote and work.

We also want to make note, that the Council is willing once the dollars are available to do a TREE INVENTORY for the City. This is also very important. We understand the current economical times may put this on the back burner, but we cannot, must not allow this to be forgotten.

The TREE INVENTORY is essential to understanding and moving ahead with a full and comprehensive plan to SAVE THE TREES in the Seattle City limits.

AS FOR INGRAHAM, Will the Interim Emergency Tree Ordinance be helpful? WE don't know.

On January 22 the DPD determined it would allow the removal of 72 of the Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar and Madrone trees in the Northwest Forest. This was not a surprise to the SAVE THE TREES-Seattle group. On February 5, 2009 4 appeals were filed to change this decision. On February 26th will be a pre-hearing with the City Hearing Examiner, and on April 1, is scheduled the Hearing with the City Hearing Examiner. The April 1 hearing is open to the Public. All tree hugger's are invited. (Neighborhood groups who have dealt with parking overflow, street narrowing, and other non-tree items are invited also).

The Hearing will be held at: Office of the Hearing Examiner,
Suite 4000, 700 Fifth Avenue (Seattle Municipal Tower, 40th Floor), Seattle Washington.

If you have a few extra dollars, Save The Trees-Seattle is raising funds for legal expenses (currently the funds go to the Ingraham Trees battle). It truly is a worthy cause, and unfortunately, the court system is still the most viable and fair system for saving trees. Our past expenses, and consultations are $4000, future legal expense will range into the $20,000 mark (this is the Ingraham bill only). Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

Steve Zemke,
2131 N 132nd Street
Seattle WA 98133

2009-01-11T02:40:00.000-08:00

The Cascade is the Student Newspaper At Ingraham High School.
After the Public Meeting, and wanting to set the record straight with the Students the following letter was received. I have decided to post it here in reply to some of the new happenings at the High School.

To the Cascade staff,

i am saddened that the staff of the Cascade has failed in realizing the Ingraham trees are NOT an issue regarding the need to replace the portables and math modular.

In fact the portables and math modular buildings have continually been placed as a "later" project in the planning of the School Board/District for years.

The portables and math modular needed replacing when the fields were built and the lights were installed, why didn't the student body find the conditions in the portables and math modular so deplorable then as to stand up and say NO we need NEW Educational facilities before we need athletic facilities?

I am saddened at the lack of respect given to neighbors who PAY the salaries of the instructors, and for the athletic field and the lights, and the science building and the library, and even Mr. Foe's salary. The Tax payers of the City pay for the grounds that the School is on.

I am also saddened at the lack of respect, and the lack of understanding as to the health of the neighbors and future students. For the neighbors, future students and the instructors health will be at stake when the trees are removed.

The answer is to move the addition elsewhere on campus AND keep the trees. It is NOT addition OR trees.

The issue with the neighbors has never been addition or trees. It has always been MOVE the ADDITION and LEAVE the TREES.
Oh, and were any of the students listening when the Department of Planning and Development person stated how many trees would be removed? 73, Were they listening when the Department of Planning and Development person said ONLY 187 trees would be planted? Perhaps your math instructor could explain how the ratio of 73 to 187 is equivalent to 1 to 3?

It is the wasting of a Natural Resource like trees that is wrong. The North Lawn has NO trees. The places where the Portables and Math modular are don't have trees, why not build there?Why weren't the library and science construction built in a manner where a second story could be added? And why is there a future plan to build on the north lawn? Why not build on the north lawn NOW and make that addition strong enough for a 2nd story later? Why are only 20 people in ONE design team considered to have the Right answer? After all the Terrorist who attacked on 9/11 had 20 people were they correct? Or Japan at Pearl harbor? It isn't the number of people that make a project correct. Or even the professionals on the project's team. Mistakes were made when the Narrow's Bridge was built the first time. As were the mistakes when the I-90 bridge was under construction. Engineers and Architects were on those projects and were absolutely sure the plan's that had been produced were correct. How long will it take for I-90 and The Narrow's Bridge to reach Capacity Or I-5 under the convention center? How long did it take for 520? All projects done by professionals who were sure they would last for decades, with no capacity problems.

The sad part about this new addition at Ingraham, this new addition that will waste a resource that can not be replaced in the lifetime of the students or the neighbors is IT WILL NOT GIVE THE SCHOOL ANY ADDITIONAL CAPACITY. It only replaces the number of classrooms it removes. What is the current problems with the School District? Where are the Capacity issues?
Does the High School need more Capacity for the future or less? Does the School need the addition or is there away to rearrange classroom space inside the building and not have the portables now? Has anyone investigated this? Not by asking biased people, but by researching documents? Demographic studies? If the Portables and Math Modular are so horrendous, then why hasn't some one reported them to the Health Department? Force the School District to bring in new ones?

What about maintenance cost? Is a full daylight basement more costly than a traditional class room? How has the School District payed for maintenance, what is their "track" record in taking care of their property? The math modular and the portables, the current landscaping and the trees? Something so simple as Who rakes the leaves from the gutters? The students or the neighbors? Who picks up the trash along the road now, students or neighbors--that will be who more than likely will rake the leaves and pay for the disposal of the leaves, just like they do the garbage.

There are so many more questions.
This is not something about trees vs an addition. It involves counting true costs: Health for students and neighbors now and in the future, drainage-are the students aware of the abandoned landfill and methane gas?, education, dollar value, future costs both environmental and maintenance. It involves where our City wants to be in the future..40% green not 18% not 14% or 8%. And by the way it way the attitude toward trees in the 60's that removed an entire forest to build Ingraham. It was that attitude that has taken our City from over 40% green down near 8%. Why would any one want to continue that type of attitude for future building? This is what the District and Architects are doing when they say, the school was designed back in the 60's to have a west addition. The 60's Environmental awareness and 2008 is quite different. Is the District saying it is OK to live in the past?
How far can the research into this topic go? I have been researching since March 2008, and every day I find more questions, more secrets and more things to be concerned about, not just for the neighbors, but also for the students and the staff of Ingraham High School. Sometimes closing our eyes and believing an authority figure is the easiest way to go, but it can also be the most dangerous and costly.

Biting the Nails

2008-12-31T03:26:00.000-08:00

Snow has fallen,
Winds have blown,

News is slow in coming.

Soon it will be time.
And decisions will be made.

Will the Ingraham Forest Stand?
What will DPD* decide?

What will the School District do?

We at Save the Trees, know what we will do.

We wait for the decision, we wait for our move.

Snow has gone,
Winds have blown,

A New Year awaits;
Resolutions made.

*City of Seattle Department of Planning and Development

Help Pass Seattle's Interim Tree Protection Ordinance - email City Council & Attend Dec. 15th Hearing!‏

2008-12-11T21:17:00.000-08:00

On Monday, December 15, 2008 at 5:30 p.m., the Seattle City Council Environment, Emergency Management, and Utilities Committee will hold a public hearing at Seattle City Hall, 600 4th Ave, on an emergency tree protection ordinance for the City of Seattle. The proposal would provide for interim protection for most trees for a period of six months to a year while Seattle develops a long-range solution to increase the tree canopy and stop the loss of healthy, mature trees. For more information, see the following links:

Public Notice of Hearing
http://www.seattle.gov/council/attachments/2008hearing_notice_luib.pdf

Briefing Memo
http://www.seattle.gov/council/attachments/2008hearing_briefing_memo.pdf

Council Bill 116404
http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s1=&s2=&s3=116404

Your input is vital to helping to pass this interim piece of legislation to protect trees in the City of Seattle. This bill was drafted as the result of our efforts to protect the trees at Ingraham High School from being needlessly cut down when alternatives existed to the proposed construction site. When the Seattle School District withdrew their construction permits in August of 2008, we went to King County Superior Court and got an injunction to stop the trees from being cut down. The Seattle School District’s attempted clear cutting of the trees without further environmental review by the city of Seattle exposed a loophole in Seattle’s tree protection ordinances. Other tree battles like trying to save trees at Waldo Woods in North Seattle also are driving this legislation.

If you cannot attend the Hearing on Monday at 5:30 PM it is critical that you send emails to all the City Council members urging their support for Council bill 116404 to provide interim tree protection until strong permanent protections can be put in place. You can write one e-mail and send copies to all the council members by cutting and pasting the e-mails below.

Emails are: richard.conlin@seattle.gov; tim.burgess@seattle.gov; sally.clark@seattle.gov; jan.drago@seattle.gov; jean.godden@seattle.gov; bruce.harrell@seattle.gov; nick.licata@seattle.gov; richard.mciver@seattle.gov; tom.rasmussem@seattle.gov

This legislation is a first step towards strengthening tree protection laws in the City of Seattle. It is being attacked by so called “property rights advocates” who oppose efforts to protect trees. They are contacting members of the Seattle City Council with their opposition and we need to counter their efforts.

We need you to add your voice in support of the city stepping up and providing stronger protection for both individual trees and tree groves and our green urban habitat. Seattle’s urban tree canopy according to the city had decreased from 40% in 1973 to 18%. Unless we speak out our remaining urban trees are in danger of being lost because Seattle existing tree ordinance only provides protection to 1% total of all the trees through a very limited “exceptional tree” provision. Other cities in the region and in the US have much stronger protection measures.

Urge that the proposed legislation be amended to strengthen SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) provisions, that permits be required to cut down any tree over 6” in diameter, that tree grove protections are vital to protecting unique urban habitats and that the exemption for “additions to existing buildings” be dropped or clarified as limited to a certain size.

Passing Council bill 116404 is only a first step but we need to take it to protect trees while permanent legislation is being drafted up. We need to generate strong citizen support via e-mails and people attending the hearing on Monday as a show of support for protecting trees in Seattle. Please help. Thanks.

Steve Zemke

Save the Trees – Seattle

stevezemke@msn.com

206-366-0811

P.S. The Seattle City Council noted the following:

1. “The public hearing on the tree protections is taking place in the Seattle Council Chambers (one floor above the 5th Ave entrance to City Hall) on the second floor. A different hearing will be taking place at the same time in the Bertha Knight Landes room on the first floor of City Hall (one floor below Council Chambers). This hearing is on the Mayor's proposed gun ban and also begins at 5:30. “

2.” The sign up sheet to make public comments will be available at 5:00 pm on the December 15, 2008 right outside of Council Chambers. People will be called in the order in which they sign up.”

3. The City Council also suggests that you provide “your comments in written form either to all Council members via email, in hard copy when you come to the hearing, or via the USPS. This is important because comments are normally limited to two minutes and many people have more than can be said in that time. Submitting your comments in writing will ensure that the Council hears what you have to say.”

Plausible deniability?

2008-12-08T23:12:00.000-08:00

mary.bass@seattleschools.org; sherry.carr@seattleschools.org; cheryl.chow@seattleschools.org; michael.debell@seattleschools.org; peter.maier@seattleschools.org; harium.martin-morris@seattleschools.org; steve.sundquist@seattleschools.org; superintendant@seattleschools.org

Howdy,

Thanks for listening to our concerns about needlessly cutting down ninety-some trees at Ingraham High School.

I attended the SEPA hearing where I recall school district officials denying under oath the existence of any supporting information about a long range campus master plan. A few days ago our Public Disclosure request has revealed several such documents.

I believe the transcript of the SEPA Appeal Hearing will support this statement. Perhaps the transcript should be read by the school board so you can see for yourself what we appellants heard your staff & contractors say during those four days. They repeatedly said the one page drawing showing 4 options for potential construction sites was the ONLY written documentation, but this is not borne out by the facts.

Arboreally yours,

Michael Oxman
saveseattlestrees.com

2008-11-21T23:40:00.000-08:00

The DPD Public meeting was Tuesday November 18th, 2008

2008-11-21T21:03:00.000-08:00

Last night at Ingraham High School, the DPD held a public meeting on the Ingraham construction project. As you know Save the Trees – Seattle and others in the community are opposed to the Seattle School District cutting down 68 trees on the west side of the High School when other locations exist on the campus where the addition can be built without cutting down any large trees.

Many neighbors and others turned out to support the trees and to urge that the project be moved. There was also a very large contingent of vocal students and parents and teachers frustrated by their long standing grievance of classes being held in rundown mold infested portables for too many years. The Principal at Ingraham stated that he made a concerted effort to turn out students and parents and teachers to support the project. With his encouragement the students basically staged a pep rally for the project. This was not unexpected considering what they have had to put up with in a substandard learning environment. The meeting comments basically turned out to be a rehash of both sides positions with little new emerging.

Those of us opposed to needlessly cutting down the trees on a campus that at 28 acres is the largest in the Seattle School District, sympathized with the frustration of the students and parents and teachers that for many years have been forced to take classes in substandard portables that are in terrible shape and have mold. Teachers and students complained of getting sick. Some of the portables house special needs students but do not have running water or bathrooms.

The Seattle School District has let the situation get out of control and is now trying to make the neighbors the villains for their negligence. The Seattle School District’s approach has been to deny they have any responsibility for delaying the project and blame neighbors who love trees more than students as what is preventing the project from going forward

But Save the Trees – Seattle and the neighbors support the long overdue upgrading of the classrooms. We are not, however, the villains just because we also don’t want to needlessly destroy a unique urban forest when viable alternatives exist on the campus for building elsewhere. One location we suggested was the North lawn area which Ingraham actually picked as the site if a future addition was to be built after the current project. It is rather ironic that the Ingraham Master Plan produced as part of this project can propose building on this North lawn location in the future but it is somehow not possible to build there now and spare the grove of trees. They are serious enough about retaining the North lawn area for a future addition that in the current proposal it is the only area on campus where they do not propose planting trees.

Two wrongs do not make a right. Not upgrading or maintaining the school in a responsible way for students and teachers in the past and proposing to cut down 68 Douglas fir, Western red cedar and Pacific madrone trees to now do the upgrade is only compounding the past mistakes by avoiding responsible stewardship of both our schools and our natural urban habitat.

The Principal testified that he went around to different student groups to recruit them to come to the public meeting to support the project as is. It is very hard for any students to take on the Principal publicly and say they opposed cutting down the trees. I have spoken with both students and teachers who opposed cutting down the trees. At least one teacher was told to stop any efforts to get students to oppose cutting down the trees because that was political and not education. The teacher felt threatened and that her job was at stake.

The Principal is the authority figure at the school. Student recommendations for college frequently come from the Principal. Is it any wonder that teachers and students who oppose cutting down the trees might feel intimidated or threatened if they spoke out. I remember when I contacted Martin Floe about our arborist looking at the trees he personally told me to not talk to the students. I guess he was afraid of them hearing anything contrary to his position. So much for an open dialogue at Ingraham.

What Floe has forgotten is that he is acting in a capacity of public trustee for the school. He has tried to make us NIMBY’s which means he doesn’t even understand the term. We are not opposed to renovating the school and in fact believe it is long overdue. I am aware of no one in our group or neighbors and other tree advocates that are opposed to the renovation. We voted for the BEX bond issue. Our tax dollars are paying for the project and we have the right to express our views as much as anyone else.

Unfortunately the process set up by Martin Floe excluded the community and neighbors from the initial selection of the site and design of the project. Meetings of the School Design Team were held in secret with a few parents and teachers personally selected by Martin Floe. The public’s only chance to comment on the proposed project was earlier this year after the building site had been chosen and the design done. And we were then told we could not comment on the site anymore since that decision was already made.

At last night’s meeting as I publicly stated, I do not think anyone there opposed the decaying portables being torn down and replaced with modern classrooms. Unfortunately it was obvious that the only option given to students and others to get new classrooms is to build in the tree grove. And blame the neighbors, rather than the School District for its inadequate review and closed review process, for preventing them from getting new classrooms.

The issue at this point is a legal one, whether or not the project is in compliance with city and state SEPA laws. We are pursing the legal process afforded the public to review the project.
The meeting was part of the public process for approval of land use permits for building in the City of Seattle and is proceeding on the normal timetable, except for the delay caused by the School District withdrawing their permit application in August in an attempt to just cut the trees down. The King County Superior Court issued an injunction to stop the trees from being cut down without any review by the City of Seattle.. The City of Seattle is expected to make a decision in the next few weeks. The City does have the authority under the city’s SEPA laws to move the project to save the trees. We will let you know when that happens.

2008-11-20T01:57:00.000-08:00

News for the Few
The DPD Public Meeting Survivors.

A Big Warm Thank You to ALL who attended
the Department of Planning and Developments public meeting regarding the renovation and addition project at Ingraham High School.

This was to be the night to publicly discuss the Ingraham plans, to try to get answers as to why the 60-90 mature trees had to be killed to make room for an addition to Ingraham High School. A public meeting to create an open space to discuss issues. It never happened.

It was a night where the School District played the card of cards: "it is for the students". Not an unexpected move for the District to take, since it is the fall back, and often only explanation for any of the decisions it makes.

The meeting was to discuss Environmental issues that pertained to the renovation, demolition and addition at Ingraham High School. These issues could include: Tree removal, landscaping, drainage, parking, traffic, air quality, and other pertinent topics.

It became a meeting of the staff, teachers parents and students at Ingraham High School complaining about how cold the portables are, how moldy the math modular building is and how the neighbors are wasting taxpayer dollars. The battle cry of this project was : move on before we all die from the poison of mold and cold. All topics that I believe are the responsibility of the School District regarding the maintenance procedures, and the pulling of the Department of Planning and Developments permits. None of which the neighbors have or had control over.

Of course facts land on deaf ears when the propaganda ends with "it's for the students" "it is for student education". Who can resist the cries of innocent children for education, comfort and health? Who is going to figure out who the responsible party is that put the education, comfort and health in danger?

Due to the dominance of students it often sounded as a Pep Rally. "YES, YES WE NEED MATH. STUDENTS BEFORE TREES. And there was nothing the Department of Planning and Development representatives could do but allow the Rally to run its course. I applaud the DPD's patience and wise decision.

I question the way the School District has "passed the Buck " of maintenance, and bad decision's (pulling building permits) onto the Neighbors Shoulders.

I await the Department of Planning and Developments decision in regards to the placing of the Addition on the Ingraham High School Campus. Will the Trees Stay or will they Die?

WRITE TO THE DPD!

2008-10-14T00:58:00.000-07:00

Seattle School District has been halted for the time being from killing an Urban Forest.

To continue to hold the Chain-saws at bay, Save The Trees-Seattle needs help.

What to do?

Write to the:
Department of Planning and Development.
700 5th Avenue, Suite 2000, P.O. Box 34019, Seattle WA 98124-4019
Attention: Tamara Garrett, Permit #3009549 Ingraham High School Renovation.

What to say:

With passion write of the importance of trees to the City of Seattle, to Education and to the Citizens of Seattle.

Things that are important to include:

FACTS:

Air pollution and Smog in Seattle, and that trees are a natural filter. (IF YOU KNOW PERCENTAGES PLEASE INCLUDE THEM)

Drains overflowing and landslides in areas where trees have been removed; PLEASE NAME SPECIFIC AREAS.

Current trend to remove trees leaves less green space, again give examples and if possible before and after pictures.

Note the aesthetic quality of mature trees instead of small saplings that die out.

The following are places to find facts and figures to write what you are most passionate about. We do not want every letter to sound the same, a form letter will not do here. Each letter must point out specific's about the Ingraham project that are important in regards to Why the TREES SHOULD BE SAVED AND THE PROJECT MOVED ELSEWHERE ON SITE. There are other issues you may also note, (piece meal projects, parking problems etc.) but our PRIMARY CONCERN is to keep the TREES.

To find out more about the project itself go here:

http://www.seattleschools.org/area/facilities/BEXIII/Ingraham/2nd_revision_IngrahamSEPAChecklist.pdf

http://www.seattleschools.org/area/bex/ingraham/IHS_SEPA_Decision_080723.pdf

To find out what the Mayor's Urban Forestry Management Plan says go here:

http://www.seattle.gov/environment/documents/Final_UFMP.pdf

To find other info:

Benefits of Trees:
http://www.seattle.gov/environment/documents/UrbanTreeBenefits.pdf

http://www.scenic.org/tree

Tree Regulations in Seattle:
http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=2010840
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/codes/Tree_Landscaping_Regulations/Overview/default.asp

Check things out, write a knowledgable letter and help SAVE THE TREES.

Thanks.

THE MUP OF MUP's

2008-09-25T00:46:00.000-07:00

It is up, the new MUP Board.

What is a MUP you ask?

A MUP is a Master Use Permit from the Department of Planning and Development (DPD). They appear anytime a project is going to be huge and effect the Environment. Developer's hate them.

Why you ask?

Because they tell the public to pay attention, something is about to happen. And the MUP Board tells the public they can comment on what is happening. There is only a short time to comment, but the PUBLIC can REGISTER a COMMENT.

That is where you, the reader of this blog can help.
Look around your neighborhood.
Watch for the BIG WHITE PLYWOOD SIZE SIGNS.
These signs will give a brief description of what is to happen, the Permit # and the address of where to send comments.

Remember your comments do count. Write them, send them and do it today. Make sure the Permit # is on the Comment.

This is how trees are to be saved. By caring Citizens, willing to take time and write and express concerns regarding the environment and the effects the Developer will have to that environment.

That is what the neighbors at WALDO WOODS are doing. That is what the neighbors of INGRAHAM TREES are doing.

Are there MUP boards in your neighborhood? Have you commented?

INGRAHAM has a new MUP Board and a NEW PERMIT #3009549, It is time to comment again. Want to help?

Write: DPD, 700 5th Avenue, Suite 2000, P.O. Box 34019, Seattle WA 98124-4910 Permit #3009549.

School District is on the Move

2008-09-17T02:12:00.000-07:00

Once more the Seattle School District has set its sights on the West Forest at Ingraham High School, now commonly called the Ingraham trees.

The NEW SIGN for the Master Use Permit went up today. I must ask all who care to stop by and read it. If you can find it!

Yes, I said if you can find it, they have done a good job at trying to hide it at the corner of 135th and Ashworth. But if you know what you are looking for, and you now have the corner to look on...you will find it.

A lot has happened since my last post. Save The Trees-Seattle has been officially recognized as a non-profit group by the State of Washington. Which means they can finally take donations to defray some of the legal costs. If you can help please contact Steve Zemke at 206-366-0811.

An injunction was given to Save The Trees-Seattle to keep the Ingraham trees intact until the School District finishes the Department of Planning and Development phase.

And the Biggest move of all: The CITY COUNCIL finally sent an Interim Emergency Tree Ordinance to the Department of Planning and Development.

Will this ordinance help Ingraham? We don't know. Is it in time to help? We don't know.

What we do know is that the pressure on the City Council and the Mayor's office must continue!
Letters, emails, phone calls to the City Council to make the Interim Ordinance have real teeth, Is what we are asking for people to do. Express yourself!

So here is the challenge:

Take time to read the New Sign about the addition and then make comments to DPD.

Take time to write City Council, continue to urge a new TREE LAW.

Addresses can be found on the http://saveingrahamstrees.info or http://saveseattlestrees.com

Thanks for your support and help to keep us focused on the Ingraham trees, and to help pay for the legal fund.

We have exceptionally great supporters.

Ingarham In the News

2008-08-16T04:37:00.000-07:00

It has been a long week for the Ingraham Trees Crew.

Press has flowed from ground to sky, print to air waves.

Trees are important!

The pictures speak louder than words,

When a T.V. camera

catches the lace of a Cedar,

The majesty of a Fir,

and the glisten of the Forest trail,

words are no longer necessary to

Express the importance of the Ingraham Trees.

The true test of the Ingraham Crew,

The Seattle Tree advocate groups

The Citizens of Seattle

The Seattle City Council,

The Department of Planning and Development,

The Mayor and

The Seattle School District has yet to come.

Who will stand for the beauty of the Fir and the

Grace of the Cedar?

The Ingraham Crew will.

The Tree Advocate groups of Seattle Will

But who else will stand?

As the time for hearings draws near,

We wait...hope...

Appeal Decision for Ingraham Trees

2008-07-28T22:10:00.000-07:00

The Appeal to the School District Hearing Examiner for the Seattle School District regarding the Designation of Non-Significance for the Ingraham trees has been decided. True to all expectations the decision was in favor of the School District. The Designation of Non-Significance was upheld. This decision was then sent as a recommendation to the Superintendent of Schools. She upheld it too.

The reason this was not a surprise is that the School District has an advantage called a "weighted advantage", their experts and professionals are automatically assumed to be correct. The Appellants are automatically assumed to be wrong.

The reality is, the School District can call any piece of land that it desires to "develop" Environmentally Non Significant. By doing this, the School District then has the advantage in an appeal of being right. It is automatically assumed that the School District is RIGHT. The Ingraham appeal decision stated a more than Moderate Significant Environmental Impact to the neighborhood around Ingraham. 75+% Significant Environmental Impact. In the real world, that means the School District only had a Designation of 25% Non-Significance (an F). In the fair, Democratic world the Appellants won. In the SCHOOL DISTRICT world the Appellants lost.

Anyone, brave enough or brash enough to appeal a Decision of Hon-Significance must prove beyond a doubt twice that the School District is wrong.

The numbers look like this: Opening : School District 100% correct---The appealants 0 correct. The decision: School District 125%, Appealants 75%.

The scales of Justice began as unbalanced then ended as though they were in a kangaroo court.

We wait to see what the Department of Planning and Development will say.

New Resolution, What about a LAW?

2008-07-19T02:20:00.001-07:00

The new tree resolution has passed and is going to help give clarification to past laws and regulations. The next step, is to get a NEW tree law that will be stronger, and will be able to protect groves of trees. The way for this law to become a part of our city, and our future is for the Public to become involved. HOW DO YOU BECOME INVOLVED? YOU SIMPLY JOIN THE CREATE AN EMAIL CAMPAIGN. Write to the Mayor at seattle.gov; the City Council at city.council@seattle.gov and the Department of Planning and Development. Let them all know that trees are important! And that our lives, and environment need them! All the Urban Forest in Seattle are needed to sustain a healthy environment for all the people residing and visiting Seattle. Large conifers will never be replaced by 25 foot high deciduous trees. So send the emails and let the City leaders know that TREES, ESPECIALLY CONIFERS ARE NECESSARY AND VITAL TO THE EMERALD CITIES YEAR ROUND GREEN CANOPY!

Birder's Beware

2008-07-08T21:59:00.001-07:00

Recently spotted in the Ingraham Trees was a baby Hawk. Mom is watching over the fledgling. Be quiet and careful, and you may get a glimpse of this little one eating or resting in the trees.

Also recently the Flickers were seen with two new family members in flight. This little group seems to be doing well in spite of all the predatory Ravens.

The Ingraham Trees are alive with Wild Life so stop in and take a look and a listen. Surprises abound.

More news from Ingraham Trees

2008-07-08T21:49:00.000-07:00

The appeal hearing ended on June 30th. Currently all are waiting for the Hearing Examiners decision/verdict as to Designation of Nonsignificance or if there will be a Designation of Significance in regards to the Ingraham trees. This decision could take up to 20 days.

Other news The CITY COUNCIL passed the Tree Resolution to better define and interpret the Directors Directive 6-2001, in short; the Resolution passed to help protect more trees. How this may or may not effect the Ingraham trees remains to be seen.

Douglas Fir

2008-06-19T17:22:00.000-07:00

Douglas Fir

Majestically Beautiful
Warm and comforting
in a cement filled land

Towering in green
above industry crawl

Resilent against urban sprawl
the developers saw

Tall and Majestic
Let us help them stand

On June 17th the City council began work on a Resolution to help the Douglas Fir Stand.
We applaud their efforts, and ask them to quickly move on this desperately needed, revamping of the Seattle Tree Ordinance. It is time for Urban Forest to be included, not just single trees.

Trees vs District

2008-06-11T02:02:00.000-07:00

Don't mess with the TREES!!!

Ingraham trees, strong and tall
Majestic as the day approaches.

Seattle School District Dark and Menacing
trampling as the day appears

Who will remember this BATTLE FOR THE TREES?
We will, WE WILL!!
CRY THE NEIGHBORS strong and loud!

The battle has only just begun, the District has began its long and dulling battles, first appeal with the SEPA to begin on June 19th and 20th.

How odd that the School District has CHOSEN to call Majestic, 100 foot Douglas Fir, Cedar and Madrone trees non-significant. In this day and age of Global warming, environmental awareness, and overall ecological benefits that the environment brings to society the School District is revealing its own ignorance and blindness, by calling TREES insignificant. Let alone the fact that the School District is condemning an entire Urban Forest to a clear cut. It must be politically correct to call the Seattle School District anti-environmentalist, Right?

One must question the type of classes that are being taught within Seattle Schools. If TREES are insignificant to an Environment, are people insignificant to the human race? When the School is named after a known Mountaineer, and Conservationist, what is the School District thinking about when it comes to clear cutting the Urban Forest? How can the District be so blind? Are they going to change the name of the School too? It would only be appropriate, since there will be nothing left to claim environmental value.

Recently there was a letter sent to the School Board from the City Council, stating that the City Council members would offer support and other means to move the addition at Ingraham to another site on campus and spare the Trees.

May 21st the Seattle School Board answered the City Council letter with a "forget you" attitude. Not only did the School Board tell the City Council to get lost, but it also said the neighbors weren't worth listening to.

The School Board may not think the neighbors are worth listening to now, but wait until the BTA levy and the BEX IV levy come around for a vote, then the School Board will want the neighbors to listen...But the neighbors will say NO!

Yep, the neighbors will JUST SAY NO! And maybe add: REMEMBER THE TREES?