With a break for lunch, a Kenmore hearing examiner received nearly eight hours of testimony Jan. 29 regarding Bastyr University’s plans to build 11, three-story dorm buildings.
Bastyr faced the appeal of a city environmental study and needs to earn several permits in order to proceed with the project, which would include 132 bedroom units.
Plans also call for creation of 76 parking spaces.
Bastyr’s proximity to St. Edward State Park and the wetlands there are almost certainly the reasons the project has attracted so much community attention, including the appeal of Kenmore’s environmental impact study.
Following that study, the city ruled the proposed dorms would not create significant environmental issues. In her appeal, resident and local activist Ann Hurst argued that simply isn’t the case.
According to Hurst, runoff from the dorm construction will reach two creeks in St. Edward: Arrowhead Creek and another waterway known only by a number designation of 0226.
Hurst said she had researched the Native American name of 0226, but apparently that research did not lead to a definitive answer. In any case, Hurst and the witnesses she presented claim increasing the runoff from Bastyr will add to flooding problems along Arrowhead Creek and pollute nearby wetlands.
At the same time, Hurst contends Creek 0226 is not receiving the flow it naturally would. Because of the overall situation, with either too much water or not enough, Hurst added neither creek is able to serve the local salmon population.
Instead of the city granting permits, Hurst asked that a formal hydrology study determine the best course for any water runoff, hopefully a course that would direct more water into Creek 0226.
Bastyr witnesses included a wetlands biologist and a civil engineer, led through testimony by university attorney Patrick Mullaney.
Wetlands expert Becki Kniveton testified that trying to redirect runoff away from Arrowhead Creek and into Creek 0226 might not be feasible and could harm surrounding vegetation. She also said the dorm project includes a landscaping and mitigation plan that could benefit St. Edward’s wetlands by helping to clean any water runoff.
The long hearing actually was broken into two parts. The first dealt with the appeal of the environmental study, while the second focused on the various permits required for the dormitory project.
Despite its length and the fact it began at 10 a.m. on a weekday, the hearing room in the Northshore Utility District building was crowded with observers. Kenmore Director of Community Development Debbie Bent said she was not surprised.
“There is a lot of interest in Bastyr,” Bent said.
Written decisions usually arrive within 10 working days of any development hearing.
In this case, Bent said because of the amount of testimony and exhibits presented by all sides, hearing examiner Ted Hunter already had requested an unspecified extension of that period.
