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Residents urge council to block rezoning that they say would sever Laurier Estates wildlife corridor
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Summary
Residents and local environmental experts told the Sammamish council that a five‑acre parcel rezoned to R4 is the last functional link between two large forest blocks on the Sammamish Plateau and urged the city to reconsider the rezoning and map wildlife corridors correctly.
Several Sammamish residents focused public comment on March 3 on a nearby five‑acre parcel (referred to by speakers as the "bridal parcel") that they say was rezoned from R1 to R4 and that, according to consultant field work, functions as a critical wildlife corridor. Speakers said they filed a SEPA appeal and hired wildlife biologists and forestry experts to document habitat values.
"The bridal parcel is the sole, and I say this, remaining functional link between 2 major forests forest blocks totaling 882 acres on the Sammamish Plateau," a resident said, summarizing consultant findings. Residents said the parcel contains mature trees and rare lowland Puget Sound old‑growth forest patches and that development could permanently sever animal movement between the two forest blocks.
Multiple residents described work done by wildlife biologists Mary Knutson and others who, they said, conducted GIS, GPS and field surveys. "I have surveyed thousands of acres of forested habitat throughout this region... This parcel does not appear to have ever been logged," one expert’s quote was read into the record by a resident, who urged the council to consider a moratorium on tree removal while the city updates wildlife‑corridor mapping.
A land use attorney in the audience noted the city's obligations under the state's Growth Management Act and explained that critical‑areas protections apply regardless of the underlying zoning; he urged commenters to understand how the GMA and city procedures constrain local decisionmaking. Residents said they have two days left to request reconsideration from the hearing examiner and asked the council to review submitted materials.
The council did not take formal action on the rezoning at the meeting. Council members and staff acknowledged the public appeals and the technical reports and suggested the matter remains subject to the existing hearing and appeal processes.
Next steps: Residents requested that the council revisit mapping of wildlife corridors and consider legal avenues to ask the hearing examiner to reconsider the rezoning decision; no council action was recorded at the March 3 meeting.
