[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a Letter to the Editor, written and submitted by a verified resident. It represents the opinion of the author, and does not necessarily reflect the views of South King Media or its staff.]
Cedarhurst Neighborhood Deserves a Fighting Chance
The Cedarhurst neighborhood is full of reasonable and empathetic people who recognize our City faces tight budget realities, staff turnover impacts and public engagement obstacles.
When residents join the process, it’s understandably less than ideal for individuals just trying to complete work obligations.
Please indulge our dear, kind and amazing Cedarhurst neighbors by stepping back for a minute and imagine your response to the following:
“We know you bought your home as a home, but we are really discouraging you from living here. A very large and important business has needs and they will not be studying or explaining further. The upside; your surrounding neighborhood residents will enjoy walking to the ice cream and pottery shops where you once lived. This is all voluntary, of course, if you can somehow manage to keep up with the imposed free-market financial increase of an industrial land use decision. Best of luck!”
Through the initial conversations of the “North of NERA” rezone proposal process, the communication has indicated a balanced, all-sides-win narrative.
Monday night took a surprising turn with a new binary communication; either 700 employee concentration in our small neighborhood or a complete unraveling of one, 2024 Comprehensive Plan.
We know much thought and work from staff, committees, consultants, regional players and state players go into creating a city Comprehensive Plan. This document, by its very nature is not static and absolutely available and viable for amendments.
Our residents would like to retain a fighting chance of being a part of Burien’s future. In order to secure more time and stability, we desperately need the foundational decision of an Industrial land use designation to be changed. This acute and pointed underpinning has radical, life altering impacts for residents already holding the line of housed and fed. Our neighbors would be be subjected to financial cooker-pressure realities not assigned to any other residents in town.
We are asking our elected officials to direct City staff to remove the problematic and harmful Industrial land use designation. While not simple, this ask is within scope, with a work-flow process already in place.
Our neighborhood wants to see all of Burien thrive and grow. We want others in town to appreciate and experience the unique beauty and spirit of our home neighborhood, future neighborhood-serving businesses and all. It’s wild to live in a liminal space of somehow being the most important, yet least important neighborhood in Burien at the moment.
Please consider joining our neighbors and signing our petition:
Cedarhurst Resident,
Shaúna Bakkensen
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