CONSERVATION FUTURES (CFT) 1998 - 2000 ANNUAL COLLECTIONS

APPLICATION FOR FUNDS

PROJECT NAME: Grace Cole Memorial Nature Preserve

Applicant Jurisdiction(s): City of Lake Forest Park

Open Space System: N/A

(Name of larger connected system, if any, such as Cedar River Greenway, Mountains to Sound, a Regional Trail, etc.)

Acquisition Project Size: 11.6 acres CFT Application Amount: $273,075

(Size in acres and Proposed number of parcel(s)if a multi-parcel proposal) (Dollar Amount of CFT grant requested)

Type of Acquisition(s): x Fee Title q Conservation Easement q Other:

CONTACT INFORMATION

Contact Name: Sarah Phillips Phone 206-368-5440

Title: Community & Government Affairs Fax 206-364-6521

Address: 20150 45^th Ave. NE email SPhillips@ci.lake-forest-park.wa.us

Lake Forest Park, WA 98155 Date 5/23/2001

PROJECT SUMMARY:

The City of Lake Forest Park proposes to purchase 11.6 acres of undeveloped property in the Hillside neighborhood to preserve as an open space. In order to provide access to the property, the City proposes to construct a walking trail through the property and to install interpretive signage. This will allow the property to be used for outdoor environmental education by local schools and environmental groups and for passive recreation.

The subject property consists of five contiguous tax parcels. The land contains several acres of designated Class II wetlands (per LFP Municipal Code 16.18.040(n)(2)) and a spring-fed pond. These collectively comprise the headwaters of Brookside Creek, a Class II stream per King County Sensitive Areas Ordinance Chapter 21A.24.1240. Brookside Creek is a tributary of McAleer Creek, a documented spawning ground for chinook, coho, and sockeye salmon). The land also contains second-growth forest, steep slopes, and landslide hazard areas. It is home to Pacific chorus frogs, coyote, owls, and over 20 species of songbirds.

The Grace Cole Memorial Nature Preserve is intended to preserve the headwaters of Brookside Creek, which in the past has been habitat for salmon, as part of an ongoing effort to restore the Creek to conditions providing viable salmon habitat. The project also addresses the critical shortage of publicly accessible open space in the City; currently, less than 1% of the land in Lake Forest Park consists of publicly owned parks or open space (compared to, for example, approximately 10% in Seattle and 7% in Shoreline). The owners of the land in question (of which there are two) are pursuing plans to develop the land by building five houses, at least three of which would encroach into the wetlands on site or their associated buffers. The owners have, however, agreed to sell the land to the City contingent upon available funding. The owner of one of the parcels, having obtained a Reasonable Use Exemption for development, has placed the parcel for sale on the open market.

1. OPEN SPACE RESOURCES

Please review the attached evaluation criteria. For the proposed acquisition parcel(s), please (1) mark only those criteria that apply, and (2) thoroughly, yet succinctly describe in the space below how the proposed acquisition satisfies each marked criteria.

x A. Wildlife habitat or rare plant reserve x E. Historic/cultural resources

x B. Salmon habitat and aquatic resources x F. Urban passive-use natural area/greenbelt

x C. Scenic resources x G. Park/open space or natural corridor addition

x D. Community separator x H. Passive recreation opportunity/unmet needs

Wildlife habitat or rare plant reserve: Medium

The property is used by owls, pileated woodpeckers, red-tailed hawks, and over 20 species of songbirds. It is also a documented salmonid habitat though there are no salmonids present onsite at this time (see next item). Coyote have been spotted on this site and recently had a den on the property. The property is home to Pacific chorus frogs and three species of salamander. The wetlands on the property are habitat for great blue heron.

Salmon habitat and aquatic resources: Medium

The open ponds on the subject site have been described by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife as salmonid habitat. No salmonids are present onsite at this time due to obstructions downstream in Brookside Creek. Efforts are currently underway to remove these obstructions by the City, the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation, Lake Forest Park StreamKeepers, and by Trout Unlimited. Salmon have been documented within one half mile downstream in the last 20 years. Brookside Elementary School children have been releasing salmon fry into the stream for over 30 years.

The spring-fed ponds on the site are the headwaters of Brookside Creek. The ponds, and the wetlands surrounding them, are key to the hydrology of the entire stream system. The ponds and wetlands collect surface runoff and spring water and release it into the stream throughout the year. Development of this property would result in an increase of impervious surface in the wetlands and their buffers, irrevocably altering the retention qualities of the wetlands and disturbing the hydrology of the entire creek.

Scenic resources: Medium

The subject site is a part of the largest undeveloped area in the City. This area has been used for generations for passive recreation. The subject site contains an open pond and one of the largest wetlands in the City. The Audubon Society regularly visits the area on its birdwatching field trips.

Community separator: Medium

The subject property is part of an undeveloped greenbelt, approximately one half mile in length, which serves as a separator between the hilly, wooded terrain of Lake Forest Park to the east and the relatively flat upland in Shoreline to the west.

Historic/cultural resources: Low

Early loggers constructed a barrel system to collect drinking water from these springs, though no documentation is currently available stating that the property is eligible for listing on a Historical Register.

Urban passive-use natural area/greenbelt: High

The Grace Cole Memorial Nature Preserve will provide a natural area of 11.6 acres; the City currently owns approximately one acre of open space in this immediate vicinity, and is interested in pursuing additional acquisitions in the area which would provide a total of 15 acres of greenbelt. It is intended that the greenbelt will collectively be called the Grace Cole Memorial Nature Preserve, in honor of the late Shoreline School Board member and State Representative whose home abuts this greenbelt and who participated in the donation of the one-acre property to the City.

Park/open space or natural corridor addition: High

The acquisition would be the largest single component in a proposed greenbelt. The city currently owns one acre of open space in this greenbelt. The subject property, consisting of five contiguous parcels, is in imminent danger of development. This project would preserve the headwaters of Brookside Creek, a crucial part of that greenbelt.

Passive recreation opportunity/unmet needs: High

The City currently has less than one percent of its total area set aside as publicly accessible park and open space. Currently, the City’s largest open space, at Pfingst Animal Acres, is 3.1 acres. The area surrounding the property in question is visited on a daily basis by both residents and non-residents for passive recreation. Viewing access to ponds and wetlands and other features of interest on the subject site will be provided by a system of ADA accessible trails and boardwalks.

2. ADDITIONAL FACTORS

For the proposed acquisition parcel(s), please (1) mark all criteria that apply, and (2) thoroughly, yet succinctly describe in the space below how the proposed acquisition satisfies each marked criteria.

x A. Educational/interpretive opportunity

x B. Threat of loss of open space resources

x C. Ownership complexity/willing seller(s)/ownership interest proposed

x D. Partnerships - Describe any public or private partnerships that will enhance this project:

x E. Is the property identified in an adopted park, open space, comprehensive, or community plan?

q F. Transferable Development Credits (TDC) participation

Educational/interpretive opportunity: HIGH

The open ponds, streams, and wetlands on this property have been used for decades by local schools for field trips. There is excellent access to the ponds and streams onsite, which are just a few hundred feet from a public right-of-way. The property has been described by Tony Angell, the Washington State Supervisor of Environmental Education, as “a laboratory for learning and a library where information awaits discovery”. He has documented the use of this property for applied learning by students from elementary through high school for over thirty years. This type of access occurred for decades in the past; such access is not currently available.

Threat of loss of open space resources: HIGH

The owners of these properties have for several years been attempting to develop this land. The current plans are to build five houses, at least three of which would significantly encroach upon wetlands and/or their buffers. The owner of one of the lots, Mr. Petrie, has obtained both an MDNS determination under SEPA as well as a Reasonable Use Exemption, allowing him to build a house in steep slope areas which are otherwise protected by the City’s Sensitive Areas Ordinances. The owner of the other four lots, Mr. Hill, has requested permission of the City to obtain a sewer hookup from an adjacent jurisdiction’s sewer system (there are no Lake Forest Park sewers in the area). The development on these four lots would consist of four houses, at least three of which would encroach upon the wetlands and their associated buffers. Such development has the potential to threaten the quality and quantity of water in Brookside Creek as well as McAleer Creek and its associated wetlands as proposed construction within its wetlands and wetland buffers would increase impermeable surfaces.

Ownership complexity/willing seller(s)/ownership interest proposed: MEDIUM

While Mr. Hill (owner of the four parcels with a total area of 7.1 acres) is currently pursuing development of his property, he and Mr. Petrie (owner of the 4.5 acre parcel, which is currently for sale) have indicated their willingness to sell their properties to the City and are cooperating with the City on this project.

Partnerships - Describe any public or private partnerships that will enhance this project: HIGH

The Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation, a private nonprofit organization, is the City’s primary partner for the purpose of restoring this property to its natural state and for developing and maintaining walking/hiking trails. Trail construction and maintenance will be performed by the Stewardship Foundation. Commitments for volunteer work in the restoration of the property have also been received from Seattle Tilth, Lake Forest Park StreamKeepers, the Boy Scouts, Trout Unlimited, and the Audubon Society. Over 1300 hours of volunteer labor have been committed to this project. Briarcrest and Brookside Elementary Schools have each committed 200 hours of “kid power”. For several years, local businesses (Great Harvest Bread Co., Albertson’s, Starbucks) have been providing food and refreshments for volunteers who have been conducting stream corridor restoration and water quality monitoring in Brookside Creek, immediately downstream of the subject property. Efforts are underway by the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation to raise funds to help the City acquire remaining properties in the greenbelt. The Grace Cole Memorial Nature Preserve also has the public support of State Senator Darlene Fairley, Senator Patty Murray, and of King County Councilmember Maggi Fimia.

Is the property identified in an adopted park, open space, comprehensive, or community plan? – YES

The Lake Forest Park Comprehensive Park, Recreation, and Open Space Plan, adopted by the Lake Forest Park City Council on June 22, 1994, states on page 6: “The City should encourage restoration of habitats for salmon and heron in and along the City’s two streams, McAleer and Lyon, and their tributaries.” The subject site was identified as property to be purchased in the Parks and Open Space bond placed before the electorate by the City of Lake Forest Park Nov. 2000 (This bond measure received 52% of the vote, short of the 60% needed to pass.) It was also identified for acquisition in a (failed) county-wide bond issue in 1996.

Transferable Development Credits (TDC) participation: N/A

3. STEWARDSHIP AND MAINTENANCE

How will the property be stewarded and maintained? Does the property lend itself to volunteer stewardship opportunities? How will ongoing stewardship and maintenance efforts be funded?

The City of Lake Forest Park will fund ongoing maintenance from its operating budget.

The Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation has committed to at least 200 hours of park maintenance per year on an ongoing basis, as well as $2500 for interpretive signs. Additionally, StreamKeepers will continue their 8 year history of restoring salmon habitat and monitoring water quality on an ongoing basis. (This organization has already invested over 500 hours of volunteer effort on this stream.) The Stewardship Foundation intends to continue its successful collaboration with the Boy Scouts for Eagle Scout projects, which could be directed at specific park needs over time, and typically involve 150 or more hours of volunteer work. The Stewardship Foundation plans to continue to work with Trout Unlimited for downstream obstruction removal, with a long term goal of restoring this salmon run to its historic levels.

Lake Forest Park has recently been designated as an Earth City by King County. Lake Forest Park has an established track record of restoring native habitat in two of its current parks, Animal Acres and Blue Heron Park. Much of this restoration was accomplished with volunteer labor coordinated with Seattle Tilth, StreamKeepers, The LFP Parks and Recreation Commission, the LFP Human Services Commission, and the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation.

4. PROJECT BUDGET

TOTAL CFT APPLICATION AMOUNT*

$273,075

*Allowable acquisition costs (Ordinance 13717): The disbursement of funds shall be made only for capital project expenditures that include costs of acquiring real property, including interests in real property, and the following costs: the cost of related relocation of eligible occupants, cost of appraisal, cost of appraisal review, costs of title insurance, closing costs, pro rata real estate taxes, recording fees, compensating tax, hazardous waste substances reports, directly related staff costs and related legal and administrative costs, but shall not include the cost of preparing applications for conservation futures funds.

Estimation of property value:

A Letter of Value for each of the two properties has been prepared by Bob Edwardsen, Associate Broker at Windermere Real Estate Co. The Hill property is valued at $250,000. The Petrie property is valued at $275,000.

ESTIMATED PROJECT COSTS (dollars)	(a range may be included)
Total property interest value	$525,000
Title and appraisal work	2,050
Closing, fees, taxes	14,500
Relocation	0
Hazardous waste reports	4600
Directly related staff, administration and legal costs	(Donated by City)
Total Project Costs (CFT and other funds)	$546,150

MATCHING FUNDS SOURCES	Date Expended or Committed	Match Funds Expended or Committed (Amount)
LFP Capital Improvement Fund (REET Funds)	Committed 5/17/2001	273,075
Total Matching Funds Currently Identified		$273,075
Unidentified Remaining Match Need:	TBD

Unidentified remaining match need

The LFP Stewardship Foundation has committed to ongoing fundraising efforts for any subsequent unmet needs.

5. IN–KIND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PARTNERSHIPS

Brief Activity Description	Dollar Value of In-kind Contribution	Status (Completed, or Proposed in future?)	Activity Date Range (When was activity completed? or, date proposed in future)
Invasive plant removal	$8,000	Proposed	Spring/Fall 2002, Spring 2003
Trail construction	$2,000	Proposed	Spring/Summer 2002
Stream Corridor restoration and water quality monitoring	$5,000 $1,000	Completed Proposed	1993-present Ongoing
Native Plantings	$2,000	Proposed	Spring/Fall 2002
TOTAL	$18,000

6. ATTACHED MAP

Please attach a one-page, 8 1/2'x 11" site map that shows the following:

· Each parcel proposed for acquisition in yellow or distinct shading and an indication of any parcel proposed for less than fee simple acquisition, such as a conservation easement;

· Location of any proposed development to the site such as parking, trails or other facilities;

· Location of any proposed site restoration;

· Existing public (local, state or federal) park or open spaces, labeled and shown in dark green or distinct shading;

· Other permanently protected open spaces (private, non profit, institutional, etc.) shown in light green or distinct shading;

· Major water courses such as creeks, rivers, lakes or wetlands;

· Major roads, arterial roads or regional trails.

· Map scale: The map should show approximately a one-mile radius around the proposed acquisition(s).