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Residents urge Auburn to protect Bowman Creek plateau as EIS process continues
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Summary
Multiple residents told the council the Mount Rainier Vista / Bowman Creek EIS could affect a large, ecologically important plateau and urged separate, cautious evaluation of the East of Kersey Plateau. Speakers cited wildlife, historical irrigation features and concerns that the comprehensive‑plan language may have been misleading for some properties.
Several Auburn residents used the Nov. 17 public‑comment period to press the City Council to treat the Bowman Creek Plateau and Mount Rainier Vista area with extra caution during the ongoing environmental‑impact statement (EIS) and subarea planning.
Jason Sutherland said he attended a recent EIS readout and commended the effort while urging broader community engagement for projects he described as large and potentially “profound” in impact for Auburn and areas south of Main Street. Lee Valenta read a prepared statement asserting that Auburn’s May 2024 comprehensive‑plan EIS shows an estimated dwelling‑unit capacity of 9,572 under current zoning and warned that adding Mount Rainier Vista could push potential units beyond the 12,112 growth target; Valenta urged the city not to rezone the plateau.
Trish Borden said Bowman Creek is an important riparian corridor that historically provided irrigation and habitat; she described local conservation work that increased native plants and bird life and said the area is home to a herd of roughly 30 elk. Trista Sutherland asked that the East of Kersey Plateau be evaluated under its own policies and not grouped with the mineral resource/gravel‑pit planned‑community language, saying the plateau is subject to water‑quality protections and infrastructure limits.
Speakers asked the city to go “above the minimum bar” for engagement and to ensure the EIS and subarea plans reflect local ecological and infrastructure constraints. The council did not take action on the public comments; the EIS and subarea planning process will continue as staff and consultants develop analysis and recommendations.
