Spring Save Coal Creek Update
The Issaquah Alps Trails Club is working with Save Coal Creek to prevent the development of a 12-acre property along Lakemont Blvd. This critical area is a key wildlife corridor between Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park and Bellevue’s Coal Creek Natural Area. Currently, Isola Homes owns the property and is in the process of applying for permits to build 35 homes on it despite the concerns around erosion, wildlife impacts, and increased traffic. Learn more about Save Coal Creek here.
The effort to Save Coal Creek continues. “We continue to believe that the Isola property on Lakemont Boulevard SE should not be developed. We hope that ‘No News is good News’” says Sally Lawrence. In a recent briefing on the City of Bellevue’s Watershed Management Plan, it was reported that “Coal Creek is doing pretty well… Keeping city streams protected is becoming a more important priority as the cost to remediate streams is much higher than protecting them.” This is good news for the group as it indicates potential future investment in healthy habitats over housing developments in this area.
Additionally, the Save Coal Creek petition now has 2,916 signatures thanks to the efforts of volunteers at the Red Town Trailhead. If you haven’t signed the petition yet, you can sign it here!
However, the Trust for Public Land recently reported that Isola Homes plans to continue to apply for permits to develop the property.
Knowing this, there is still a lot of work to be done to protect this critical area. If you’d like to get involved with any of these actions please contact Sally Lawrence using the Save Coal Creek Facebook group.
Actions you can take, to support the cause:
(1) Email your questions about the details and status of the Isola development proposal, to city planner RPittman@bellevuewa.gov.
(2) Take an hour to advocate for Save Coal Creek at Red Town Trailhead.
(3) Attend (Zoom) upcoming Parks Advisory Board meetings, June 8 or July 13.
(4) Work with Sally on a T-shirt design.
(5) Work with Sally to position a Wildlife Camera with a view of the property, from the east side of Lakemont Boulevard SE.
(6) Write a news release about the value of the property for public park and wildlife uses.
(7) Contact Bellevue Stream Team for most recent information about salmon in Coal Creek and see if there is a way to remove barriers.
(8) Post a "Save Coal Creek" sign on your property or in your car window. Sally can provide a laminated 8 x 11 sign.
Thank you to everyone who has worked hard to advocate for Save Coal Creek. It is important we continue the effort to save this critical wildlife corridor from development. Get involved today!