Edmonds residents flood council with comments after tree removal and amid talk of rezoning parks

Dozens of residents and multiple council members addressed plans and proposals that could affect neighborhood parks and the Francis Anderson Center during public comment at the Edmonds City Council meeting on April 1.

The meeting drew a large turnout for audience comments after public notice that Hummingbird Hill Park and the Francis Anderson Center might be discussed during the comprehensive-plan amendments process. Council staff said 29 people had signed up to speak in advance; later in the meeting council member Chen said there were 62 spoken comments and more than 700 emails on the subject.

Why it matters: Residents and city leaders warned that selling small neighborhood parks or the Francis Anderson Center would be irreversible and would conflict with the city’s comprehensive plan goals for open space and community gathering places. Several speakers tied the controversy to a recent, contested removal of a 102-year-old coastal redwood (referred to in public comments as “Big Red”).

Public commenters described a range of impacts. Tim Greiner, who said he lives near Hummingbird Hill, argued the park is accessible for grandparents and others who cannot travel to…