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Residents urge city to halt clearing for Gardenia plat near Lake Bonney
Summary
Residents at the Jan. 28 Bonney Lake City Council meeting pressed the city to reconsider approval of the Gardenia plat and a related tree‑cutting permit, citing loss of about 5 acres of urban forest, wildlife impacts, narrow notice radius, and high appeal fees; a hearing examiner date and permit appeal are pending.
Dozens of Bonney Lake residents told the City Council on Jan. 28 that the approved Gardenia plat and an associated tree‑cutting permit threaten a roughly 5‑acre urban forest near Lake Bonney and asked the city to pause or modify the project while appeals proceed.
Community members said the development would clear about 4.09 acres, remove 312 trees classified by the city as “significant” and allow only 111 such trees to remain, and would place 19 homes roughly 600 feet from Lake Bonney. "The city approved cutting down an urban forest to build 19 houses for the benefit of 50 to 60 people," said Sheryl Robertson, who identified herself as a Bonney Lake resident. Residents also said the city issued a SEPA determination of non‑significance and moved forward without a full environmental impact statement.
The comments sharpened direct concerns about wildlife, water quality, neighborhood safety and public notice. "This forest sits on the original 1,000 acres of Bonney Lake and is surrounded by homes,"…
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