The mayor in his letter admitting that he was involved in purchasing the back-nine of the Wayne Golf Course, stated that he was just one “partner” in the sale. Why are the other “partners” or the one particular “partner” not revealed? Since it is called a “binding” contract, does it mean that the mayor and the council allowed the contract to be on a “fast-track,” or “shortcut,” without any public discussion? Did the mayor, and his agent, and the city manager, decide that we (the citizens) didn’t need to be informed about the potential sale of this last open space in the area? Does it mean that there will not be a golf course in this beautiful area? Since there were no listings or public notices of the purchase and sale, is this a case of “insider-trading?” Were the Bothell citizens misled again, so we could have more construction on this open space and golf course?

One of the “rumors” in the sale of the property has involved the Toll Brothers, a multi-billion dollar company. They are presently building “Pipers Glen,” a housing development just to the south of the back-nine of the golf course. If you have driven up to “Pipers Glen,” you will notice that every tree has been eliminated. This clear-cutting seems to magnify the geological problems of Norway Hill. In addition to the slide possibilities, does Bothell have any restrictions on total tree removal? In most of King County, and in many cities, there are severe concerns about tree removal, and penalties are involved. Even Kirkland to the south has extreme restrictions on tree removal. Does our City Council have any concerns or restrictions on tree removal? In this slide area, when “Pipers Glen” was started and then cleared completely, were restrictions and rules broken? Or was it on the “fast-track,” with “shortcuts” involved? Does the mayor have investment interest in “Pipers Glen?”

With over 200 homes (with three- and four-car garages) being built along 100th Avenue/Waynita/96th Avenue, any traffic relief will be difficult to achieve. Will we need a multiple-lane bridge across the Samammish River? Is the city going to take over land through “eminent domain” and destroy two community entrances, to widen the road? And speaking of the bridge, why are all the load-restriction signs gone? The signs “disappeared” with the massive construction of the homes to the south of the Wayne Course, (Bentley, Pipers Glen, etc.). The large over-loaded speeding trucks rattle the bridge every day, with cement trucks, earth movers and lumber. What ever happened to the load-restrictions? Has the bridge already been damaged? In the past, this bridge has been closed for many extended periods because of damage. Is this all part of the “master” plan being orchestrated for the citizens of Bothell? Do we really need more pavement and houses on our very special golf course? By the way, the Toll Brothers also build golf courses, so maybe there is hope after all. What the mayor needs to do right now, for the citizens of Bothell; is to ask for a “mulligan.”