Dedicated to Preserving the Rural
Character of Woodinville
10/12/22 City Council Mtg Oct 18th
10/21/19 CNW Endorsements
10/07/19 Meet the Candidates
05/09/14 CNW Celebrates Vote
03/17/14 Important City Council Vote
11/28/13 We're Thankful For
02/19/13 CNW News and Updates
01/29/13 CNW News and Updates
12/08/12 Montevallo Permit Application
09/05/12 Community Meeting 9/6
06/04/12 Updates on Important Topics
04/15/12 Protecting Our R1 Neighborhoods
04/02/12 You Make Difference!
02/28/12 Woodtrails Again!
05/09/14 CNW Celebrates Vote
06/16/11 CNW Prevails!!
07/11/10 Supreme Court Will Review
01/04/10 The Journey Continues
04/05/09 Wood Trails/Montevallo Update
03/08/08 Another Victory Celebration
02/18/08 We Won - Part II
08/13/07 Victory is Ours!
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Thank you to the many neighbors who were able to join us at the Woodinville Fire House for an all-neighbor CNW meeting. During the meeting, we provided updates on several topics. There has been a lot of “talk around the water cooler” lately and much confusion over where we are in this long battle, so we hope to update you on some important facts below.
City staff recommended on Monday that Woodinville City Council hold a closed-record proceeding on the Wood Trails and Montevallo sites on August 6, beginning at 6 pm in City Council Chambers. Procedures for the briefing schedule were reviewed in the Monday, June 18 Council meeting. Several key dates lie between now and August 6 and significant legal support will be required in order to file the necessary briefs and meet the milestones set forth. Things will be heating up again for Rick Aramburu, our attorney, and we’re going to need neighborhood support to fight this.
CNW’s motion to intervene in the Growth Management Hearing Board case (relating to Ordinance 431) was granted! This means that our lawyer is allowed to participate in the legal proceedings. Since Phoenix is the entity who filed the appeal, this win is an important strategic victory.
Myth: “The Hearing Examiner made his decision. It’s over.”
Facts: First, the Spokane Hearing Examiner does not have the authority to make a decision regarding either the upzone or the plat. He only has the authority to make a recommendation. He made erroneous statements in the document he submitted to the City of Woodinville and then the Woodinville Weekly proceeded to erroneously pick up that text. Read the enclosed Appeal that CNW attorney Rick Aramburu filed re: with the City of Woodinville regarding the Hearing Examiner’s recommendation for eye-opening details.
The final authority on both the upzone and on the plat approval is the Woodinville City Council. There will be a closed-record hearing (meaning no new testimony may be introduced) on both the Wood Trails and the Montevallo sites this summer where the City Council decides whether or not to accept or reject the recommendation of the Hearing Examiner.
Myth: “Won’t the Council just follow the Hearing Examiner’s Recommendation?”
Facts: The legal appeal, submitted to the City of Woodinville by Rick Aramburu, CNW’s lawyer, points outs the significant flaws and omissions in the Hearing Examiner’s recommendation. The council will independently review the existing record, and CNW will be represented at the hearing by Rick Aramburu.
Furthermore, Ordinance 431, which is in place today (but does have an expiration date), temporarily protects the R-1 zoned area from “automatic upzone” based on where sewer lines could be placed. .
Myth: “What can a few neighbors do? Aren’t we just wasting our breath?”
Facts: As Fred stated at the Fire House meeting, we expected the Hearing Examiner’s recommendation to favor the developer because he has a history of such decisions. Remember this is just one step in a long process.
There are many more steps in this process where CNW and our lawyer can impact the developers schedule and plans. The legal battle is not over yet. In fact, it’s barely just begun.
Remember that our group of 200 households has intervened in what was thought be a “slam dunk” approval of Wood Trails and Montevallo. We forced the developer to complete an EIS, which revealed a number of problems with the proposal. The delay of THREE construction seasons is a very large achievement, and the ultimate goal remains establishing development consistent with our existing neighborhood character.
Myth: "The Council isn’t going to change their mind.”
Facts: There’s an election in November-, and we can a have significant impact on the races for City Council!! A number of candidates who support CNW’s goals have filed to run. We encourage you to determine each candidate’s interests in protecting our neighborhood character and support the candidates who support our neighborhood.
We encourage EVERYONE to register to vote so that your voice can be heard. You and CNW can influence the election and the stance that the City takes on development issues. One of your and CNW’s major accomplishments has been to alter the City’s understanding of the GMA process and willingness to protect the neighborhoods.
July 21 is the last day to register to vote in the primary. Use the links below to ensure your voice is heard.
We encourage you to read more details in the newly redesigned CNW web site!! Many thanks to Kirk and Kerri Scarbrough for their excellent work in updating the site with new information on the progress of our Appeal to the Hearing Examiner’s recommendation and the ongoing efforts of CNW. We also gratefully acknowledge Robert Casto’s work to maintain the CNW site the past couple years, and we wish him and his family every success in their new home in the Midwest.
CNW’s Mission remains the same (see the About Us page)
CNW wants to insure the City of Woodinville’s promise of "preserving our Northwest woodland character, our open space, and our clean environment." We believe high-density housing, and the resulting increased traffic through our neighborhoods, are in direct conflict with the City's vision. Uncontrolled growth shows the City is abandoning its vision and the very reason for its formation.
As Fred indicated at the Fire House meeting, the CNW board would change, per the CNW bylaws. The following neighbors were nominated and elected to the position of board member for CNW. We are deeply grateful for the hundreds of hours that all CNW volunteers have put into this effort and for the dedication of the original CNW board members.
CNW Board Members:
The new board elected the following officers: President—Jeff Glickman, Vice President—Matt Schultz, Treasurer—Jackie Schwartz, Secretary—Sharon Peterson. All of the Board members have an equal vote in representing CNW and we encourage you to reach out to any of us with questions, comments or feedback.
We have new neighbors in the R-1 zoned area and in Snohomish County (where there are additional rezone initiatives being discussed) who are not aware of CNW and are not informed. They may not realize the “Domino effect" that one approved upzone could cause to our entire hillside and they may not understand the $20,000-$30,000 per household fees for mandatory sewer hookup that could impact them.
Are you willing to drop flyers at their door? Help with coordinating neighborhood meetings? Make phone calls? Can you contribute to fund the legal battle to ensure that ground is never broken for Wood Trails or Montevallo and that the bobcat, woodpeckers, salmon, deer, raccoons, and squirrels don’t find themselves homeless or our wetlands destroyed?
If you are willing to help with these or other tasks, fill out the online form and we’ll be sure to contact you. You may also use this form to send in your pledge for financial support in order to help us cover necessary legal expenses.
We appreciate the support of so many neighbors over the past three years and we look forward to continuing to stand together, shoulder-to-shoulder. As individuals, the battle could be hopeless. But together, we are a strong adversary and our strength as a community organization has never been stronger!!
Thank you for your continued support and for helping to ensure your neighbors are also informed,
Sincerely,
Your CNW Team