By Gwen Davis

UPDATE: The appeal hearing date has been rescheduled for Feb. 2.

Nearly five months ago the demolition project at the Arbor Heights Elementary School site took off. From its conception, not everyone was happy with the plans. Two appeals were filed earlier this year, which were ultimately rejected.
 
However, a third appeal is now pending, filed in Nov. by four residents, including Chris Jackins who initiated the former two appeals. A hearing will take place on Jan. 13 at the chambers of the hearing examiner.
 
The appeal mainly concerns the fate of two Douglas firs, located at the edge of the construction site, as well as four zoning exceptions that were previously granted.

Appeal document highlights

The appeal document information begins: “Our group is concerned about preserving historic schools, and providing a good environment for education and neighborhoods; we include taxpayers of the Seattle School District, the City of Seattle and the State of Washington; we include alumni, parents, and guardians of children of the Seattle School District…”
 
The objection explanation continues: “The city construction permit covers relocating two 24-inch Douglas firs and mitigation for the removal of the Pacific madrone Exceptional Tree, allowing digging in an area of ‘both moderate risk and moderately low risk for encountering precontact cultural resources’, and four ‘departures’ from the zoning code: (1) On-site parking of 55 spaces, instead of 71 spaces; (2) On-street bus loading on SW 104th St. and some special education buses on SW 105th St., instead of on-site; (3) A changing-image reader board sign; (4) Less than required ‘structure modulation’.
 
“We ask that the two 24-inch Douglas first not be replicated and that specific mitigation be established for the removal of the Pacific madrona Exceptional Tree, that the Duwamish Tribe be involved before digging, and that all of the departures from zoning code be denied because the project is unreasonably large for the site. Alternatively, if the departures are not simply denied, we ask that the city require more on-site parking, further mitigation for traffic Impacts on SW 105th St., and further mitigation for the electronic sign.”
 
“The DPD Decision is in error with regard to allowing the relocation of the two 24-inch Douglas firs toward the east end of SW 104th St…”
 
The appeal goes on to describe how the trees “are not candidates for transplanting and can be saved.” The city, out or respect, should “consult with the Duwamish Tribe prior to digging at the site” due to “encountering precontact cultural resources”.
 
Moreover, for the 2016/17 school year, the private Westside School has received permits to remodel and move into a former church building on the corner of SW 104th St., which is close to the site and can negatively impact traffic, the document states.
 
Additionally, the city should “restrict electronic sign messages” so that they exclusively contain school-related info and not “commercial advertising”.
 
The three other applicants are Robert Femlano, Rex Long and Rose Long, along with the organization “Seattle Committee to Save Schools”.
 
The new school is slated to open in two years.

You are invited to attend!
The hearing will take place on Feb. 2. While it was originally scheduled for mid Jan., it was delayed due to a "problem with the notice".