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Planning board recommends renaming Edmonds demo garden for Susie Schaeffer
Summary
The Edmonds Planning Board voted to forward a recommendation to the City Council to rename the Edmonds Wildlife Habitat Native Plant Demonstration Garden in honor of longtime volunteer Susie Schaeffer after a public hearing with broad community support.
The Edmonds Planning Board voted to recommend that the City Council rename the Edmonds Wildlife Habitat Native Plant Demonstration Garden the Susie Schaeffer Wildlife and Native Plant Community Garden.
The recommendation follows a public hearing at which volunteers, nonprofit representatives and residents described Schaeffer’s 16 years of work restoring the demonstration garden, running free classes and using the site as an outdoor classroom.
Angie Fessor, Parks, Recreation and Human Services Director, told the board that the Demonstration Garden is a subset of the Willow Creek Hatchery and was created and nurtured by Schaeffer since 2009. "She took it upon herself to get in there and clear out massive amounts of our beloved invasive species and replant with a lot of native plants," Fessor said. Jen Leach, the department’s volunteer coordinator, added that Schaeffer "has really deep roots here in the community" and that the garden functions as a gathering place and classroom.
Public testimony included longtime volunteers and organizational leaders. Orel Walls, who described himself as a co-steward, recounted work to clear blackberries and plant native species and urged the board to approve the renaming. Britney Auman, development stewardship specialist for Sound Salmon Solutions, described regular use of the garden by youth programs and Edmonds College horticulture classes. Bill Deary, president of Pilchuck Audubon, said his organization fully supports the proposal; Brian Zink, executive director of Pilchuck Audubon, said he submitted the formal request.
After public comment the board opened discussion and a member moved to send a favorable recommendation to the City Council to rename the demo garden for Schaeffer; another member seconded the motion and members voting in favor voiced "aye." Board members said the change reflected widespread community sentiment and the garden’s educational value. Staff told the board the item will go to council on Tuesday, Feb. 4, for final consideration.
The board’s action is an advisory recommendation to the City Council; final approval and any subsequent signage, interpretive text or dedications will be decided by council action.
The Planning Board closed the public hearing and continued with other agenda items.
