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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Attend the City Council meetings where the R-1 rezone and Wood Trails/Montevallo applications will be presented to our chosen representatives. Let them see we still care and are counting on them to represent us.
Support and elect those who would take precious time out of their busy lives to keep our community reflecting our priorities.
And consider giving yet again of your time and money to further a cause which has fought long and hard for our trees, our children, and our homes.
We have successfully slowed what is typically a 90-day process into over three years. This is good. Time allowed us to apply expert knowledge found within our very own neighborhood to what is typically a rubber-stamp affair (think Tanglin Ridge cliff dwellings and the White Stallion building). People may believe Phoenix development has triumphed. Not so! The process continues for us and is as follows…
The recommendation by the Hearing Examiner from Spokane (brought in despite there being many eager and qualified local examiners) was merely a step in the required process. If no one appealed his finding, it is true that would be the end and the bulldozers could have rolled. However, the Hearing Examiner's findings are not as final as one might assume. He can only make recommendations, not decisions. His job was simply to recommend acceptance or rejection of the preliminary design plat. No final plan exists, and a rezoning of the R-1 area is still required before the developers can proceed.
By challenging the Examiner’s recommendation, CNW has forced the issue on to the City Council where it belongs, in the hands of the people who live and work here. The official process calls for a “closed record” hearing by the City Council. This does not mean it is closed to the public, it means no further testimony can be admitted. That is why CNW submitted four, extremely thick, bound volumes for the Hearing Examiner’s review. We believe they were not given the attention they deserved by the Hearing Examiner, but we have confidence the City Council will see their worth.
After the City Council deliberates, it will make a decision about whether to rezone any or all of the R-1 District into R-4 as sewer becomes available. Without the rezone, which only the City Council can mandate, the Hearing Examiner’s recommendation of the preliminary plat is a moot point. Even City Council acceptance does not necessarily end the process as further appeals could occur. Other cities' decisions on urban density have reached the Washington Supreme Court. So hang in there!
Many CNW Board members have served their community well for three years, now it is time for them to rest and let other shoulders take up the yoke. New officers will be chosen. There is still room for more Board members. Fred Green was presented a gavel/plaque, thanking him for his untold number of selfless hours spearheading CNW’s efforts representing our neighborhood, even after moving out of the area.
Fred Green, longtime president and leader of CNW, reviewed our history. Since its inception in May 2004, CNW’s mission has been “Dedicated to preserving the rural character of the Wellington neighborhood”.
Many steps, hours, and dollars have been poured into making this vision a reality. The CNW Board and committed neighbors have spoken in front of City Council many, many times. People have given up vacation time in order to present excellent factual material using their professional expertise and heartfelt impressions. Family time has been sacrificed over and over by community members committed to protecting this beautiful neighborhood for the enjoyment of their children. Nature has continued to have a diverse and supportive home in our own backyards.
Volunteers, most of whom are also associated with CNW, have spent countless hours meeting with City Hall to help shape the future of eastern Woodinville known as the R-1 area. The past year these tireless citizens have evaluated planning for growth in Woodinville with respect to the environment, neighborhood character, transportation, and infrastructure. The implications of this far-reaching study will help the City of Woodinville meet its imposed Growth Management Act density requirements in a way that supports the environment and its citizens. The new land use permit application moratorium was put in place to give the Citizen Advisory Board time to evaluate their own and consultants’ observations regarding applications for building in the R-1.
Brief introductions and presentations were made by neighboring organizations with similar concerns.