Mary Wictor, a Sammamish resident, told the Sustainable Commission during public comment on Jan. 9 that the city’s current housing mix—she said about 85 percent single-family—undermines long-term sustainability and finances and contributes to development pressure in critical areas.

Wictor said the city should increase housing density and move development into town centers. “We need to increase the number of houses, increase the density,” she said, adding that reasonable-use exceptions have allowed heavy tree removal on some lots and that many buildable lots are in town centers with better utilities and lower environmental impact.

Wictor also said she submitted a docket in 2019 to add transfer of development rights (TDR) to the city work plan; she told the commission the issue is now on the work plan for 2025. She described TDR as a means “to save the critical areas and make sure that your density is put into centers or town center.”

She raised invasive plants as a second topic, recommending nonchemical removal and regular pruning to reduce ivy and blackberry’s damage to trees and urging clearer guidance on tree clearing and pruning limits. “When you’re pruning, you can only go up the bottom 25% on large trees,” she said, and recommended arborist involvement for larger work.

Ending: Commissioners and staff noted the comprehensive-plan discussions coming in subsequent meetings and said housing types, density and tree protections are topics that will be incorporated into the city’s planning work and code updates.