Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Local News


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Monday, August 25, 2008 at 12:00 AM

E-mail article     Print view

Judge delays district's plan to cut down 100 trees at Ingraham High

The Seattle School District can't cut down 100 trees on Ingraham High School campus until it obtains a building permit from the city, a King County Superior Court judge ruled this afternoon.

Seattle Times staff reporter

The Seattle School District can't cut down 100 trees on the Ingraham High School campus until it obtains a master-use permit from the city, a King County Superior Court judge ruled this afternoon.

Judge John Erlick said the district "was trying to put the proverbial cart before the horse" in moving to have the trees removed before obtaining the permit for a renovation project at the school. The decision delays any action on removing the trees until at least February.

A group calling itself Save The Trees filed a lawsuit earlier this month to block the district from cutting down 100 trees as part of a $24 million renovation project. Keith Sculley, attorney for Save The Trees, argued that the grove constitutes an urban forest and a migration corridor for birds and other animals, as well as a buffer between neighbors and the school.

Shannon McMinimee, the district's attorney, said that school wanted to remove the trees before school starts Sept .3 The school already completed all the required environmental review, McMinimee argued.

A hearing in the lawsuit was set for Sept. 2, but the district still planned to remove the trees Aug. 15 and 16 before students returned to class next week. Erlick imposed a temporary restraining order, blocking the district until today's hearing. Save The Trees had to pay a $7,500 bond to offset the district's costs for delaying renovations.

The district plans to cut down nearly 70 trees from a stand of 133. It also plans to cut down 30 more trees deemed diseased, remove portable classrooms and build an addition to the school.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has been among those who've expressed disappointment at the district's plan to cut the trees, but a spokesman for the mayor said it appeared there was nothing Nickels could do to stop it.

Noelene Clark: 206-464-2321 or nclark@seattletimes.com

Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this report.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

More Local News headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

DNA, ballistics tie man to cop killing, police say

Greenwood merchants nervous after 3 more arsons

UW to honor war heroes with Medal of Honor shrine

Nicole Brodeur: Praise pours on the water man

Soldier from Whatcom County is killed in Afghanistan

Advertising

Video

Ken Auletta talks about "Googled"
Ken Auletta talks about Google with Brier Dudley at the Seattle Central Library.

Medal of Honor
Pelosi answers questions at Swedish Medical Center
Pelosi speaks at Swedish Medical Center
"Pistol" Pete Ryan
Mourners gather at KeyArena for slain officer's memorial
Procession for slain SPD officer
Election Night: Approve R-71
Election Night: Reject R-71
Election Night: Joe Mallahan

Marketplace

nwautos

2009's most fuel-efficient sedansnew
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising