City of Lake Forest Park News Release

Aldercrest Jail scoping letter

January 28, 2009

Andy Ishizaki, Sr. Project Manager

c/o NEC Regional Municipal Jail EIS

700 5th Avenue, Suite 5200

P.O. Box 94689

Seattle, WA 98124-4689

Re: Aldercrest Jail site Determination of Significance and Request for Comments on Scope of Environmental Impact Statement

Dear Mr. Ishizaki,

The City of Lake Forest Park appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Determination of Significance and Request for Comments on Scope of Environmental Impact Statement issued January 2009.

The City believes that a new jail should be compatible with its surroundings, such as in a commercial area or next to current jail and court facilities. It should also have the least impact on its surrounding environment and community. Most of the sites being evaluated meet these criteria. The Aldercrest site, on the other hand, does not seem to meet these basic criteria for an appropriate jail location.

The City is confident that during the Environmental review period these concerns will be evaluated and that a suitable location for future jail will be determined. We offer the following comments to ensure that this process fully evaluates the full impacts of this decision on the surrounding community.

The City recognizes the need for additional jail alternatives and look forward to working together to find the most appropriate location for the surrounding community.

Analysis of Elements Of The Environment:

The following elements of the environment are of concern to the City of Lake Forest Park and must be addressed in the EIS for each of the proposed sites, but particularly for the proposed Aldercrest site:

Scenic/Historic resources, built environment

Are there any places or objects listed on, or proposed for, national, state, or local preservation registers known to be on or next to the site? If so, generally describe.
Generally describe any landmarks or evidence of historic, archaeological, scientific, or cultural importance known to be on or next to the site.
What are the proposed measures to reduce or control impacts on historical and scenic resources?

Noise

What types and levels of noise would be created by or associated with the project on a short term or a long-term basis (for example: traffic, construction, operation, other)? Indicate what hours noise would come from the site.
What are the proposed measures to reduce or control noise impacts?

Light and glare

What type of light or glare will the action produce? What time of day would it mainly occur?
Could light or glare from the finished project be a safety hazard or interfere with views?
What existing off‑site sources of light or glare may affect your action?
What are the proposed measures to reduce or control light and glare impacts?

Aldercrest is a site used by schools and astronomical groups for star gazing. How can the light impacts be mitigated?

What types of emissions to the air would result from the action (e.g., dust, odors, vehicular or industrial smoke) during construction and when the project is completed? If any, generally describe and give approximate quantities if known.
What are the proposed measures to reduce or control emissions or other impacts to air?

Land and shoreline use

Does the project take into account existing land use plans and estimated population growth?
How does this development address future demand for recreation use of the area?

Housing

Would development have an adverse effect on surrounding residential property values?
What are the proposed measures to reduce or control adverse impacts on surrounding residential property values?

Transportation –

Is there adequate public transportation to the site?
Do the local roads support increased use?
How will traffic impact surrounding neighborhood roads?
Is there adequate capacity on the existing road system?
Will the presence of increased traffic present a traffic hazard?
Is there adequate parking?

Public Services and Utilities

Would the project result in an increased need for public services: fire protection, police protection, health care, parks maintenance water/storm water, or other governmental service or utility?
What are the proposed measures to reduce or control direct impacts on public services?
Are there adequate public facilities nearby to service guests and employees?
Are there adequate public services and utilities for additional families that may move into the area to be close to the incarcerated population?
What is the impact on local governmental services for the incarcerated and the friends and family of the incarcerated?
What is the impact of the loss of active recreational facilities?

Drainage and Erosion

Will the presence of increased impermeable surface create flooding? Or have other impacts on the surface water and storm water?

With respect to the Aldercrest site, there are specific concerns about run off stormwater management and water quality in Brugger’s Creek, which drains to Lyon Creek (an historic salmon bearing stream). How will jail development at the Aldercrest site mitigate stormwater and water quality impacts?

Plants and Animals

Is the site a bird migration resting location?
What is the impact of the development of the site on resident mammal populations?

Recreation

What is the impact of the proposal on recreation?
For the Aldercrest site, how will the existing sports field capacity be replaced or mitigated?

Mitigation

How will any impacts to the elements of the environment identified above be mitigated?

Alternatives

Will the EIS consider different jail size alternatives? This could include the total size of the jail and its footprint in the community, such as a single story structure versus a multi-story building.
Will the EIS consider alternatives to building a jail facility, either independently or in combination with some expanded alternative to incarceration. This could include an expansion of alternatives such as work release, drug/alcohol treatment, and in-home detention or monitoring.

The city appreciates the cooperative efforts going into siting a jail facility and look forward to continuing working together to find the most suitable regional jail site.

Sincerely,

David Hutchinson, Mayor

Cc: City Council

City Attorney

Planning Director

For more informationon the North/East Cities Municipal Jail Planning,click here.