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Residents urge council to preserve Bowman Creek forest amid planned mine development
Summary
Residents during public comment urged the Auburn City Council to preserve about 140 acres of forest in the Bowman Creek neighborhood and proposed seeking Conservation Futures funding; speakers said the mine development could add thousands of housing units and a need for a wilderness park.
Several residents told the Auburn City Council on Sept. 2 they want the city to preserve a roughly 140-acre forest in the Bowman Creek neighborhood as development advances on a nearby mine site.
Trish Borden, an Auburn resident and frequent public commenter, told the council she and neighbors want the area preserved as “a wilderness park” for recreation and to retain wild spaces as new housing is built. Borden said the mine could be developed with “anywhere from 2,000 to 8,000 dwelling units, which translates to maybe up to 20,000 people,” and said her neighbors favor purchase and preservation. She also said the group had met with Conservation Futures and that the program “gives out $60,000,000 a year” and could pay market rate to the owner.
Former council member Virginia Haugen also spoke in support of preservation, described local concern about tree loss in nearby developments and urged the council to consider residents’ requests. Speakers noted that no formal council decision had been made and that their remarks were offered during the audience participation portion of the meeting.
Council members did not take action on the issue at the meeting.
