City faces scrutiny over environmental compliance failures

During a recent government meeting, resident Sammy Robertson raised significant concerns regarding the city’s adherence to environmental regulations and procedural transparency in the planning process. Robertson questioned why the contractor's CEPA environmental checklist was not provided to planning commissioners during the last meeting, suggesting this omission violated established rules. He also highlighted the absence of the Department of Ecology's correspondence and public comments in the online agenda packet, which he argued hindered citizens' ability to review critical documents related to the Coney Island project.

Robertson expressed frustration over the city’s failure to address procedural questions raised in previous letters and criticized the lack of availability of the Shoreline Master Program (SMP) on the city’s website. He noted that despite notifying the city about this issue, there had been no response. Furthermore, he pointed out discrepancies in the staff report regarding the number of parking spots associated with the project, emphasizing the importance of accurate information in a small community.

In his remarks, Robertson referenced communications with the Department of Ecology, which recommended additional studies, including a geotechnical report and a formal mitigation plan. He questioned the city’s decision-making process, stating that while these documents were not mandatory, they were essential for compliance with the SMP. He urged the city to follow its own regulations and expressed concern that the approval criteria had not been met.

Robertson concluded by inviting city officials to respond to his comments, emphasizing the need for clarity and adherence to established criteria in the planning process. His statements reflect ongoing community concerns about environmental oversight and the transparency of local government operations.