Breean Beggs, 625.6254, and Lori Kinnear, 625.6161
Monday, April 17, 2017 at 11:53 a.m.
Council Members Breean Beggs and Lori Kinnear share the community’s shock and disappointment at the recently unauthorized one-mile road bulldozed through a City Park Natural Area on the South Hill’s Bluff.
The Parks Department and Avista confirmed that they never gave authorization to a logging company for destruction of the landscape and the cutting of dozens of trees. The investigation continues as to who is legally responsible for paying for the damage and restoration. In the meantime, the City will provide erosion control and begin planning for restoration. Both the City and Avista confirmed that the new roadway will not be used as a road in the future.
Beggs visited the site and is familiar with holding timber trespassers liable under Washington’s favorable laws.
“I am confident that the City will be able to recover full damages from the wrongdoers, but I still have questions on how the City will balance the interests of preserving natural areas for the public and considerations of expansion of the adjoining golf course,” he says.
As Bluff users both Beggs and Kinnear are incredibly frustrated about the creation of this road and the lack of oversight that led to this happening.
“I greatly appreciate the concern the public has shown over the destruction of part of our city’s natural beauty to develop this unapproved road,” Kinnear stated. “We both will be working with the parties involved to develop a plan to restore what has been destroyed and to make sure the parties responsible are held accountable. In addition I am currently working to update our tree ordinance to prevent a situation such as this occurring in the future.”
Information around the development is evolving and the City will continue to monitor and share information with constituents.
Both Beggs and Kinnear will be continuing to reach out to the Park Board, the Administration, The First Tee, Swedberg Contracting and Avista to seek further clarity on how this occurred and what can be done to restore the area to its original state.
