Save a Forest in Southworth, WA

Southworth Forest Update:

Comments Open Until Nov. 9 on Southworth Deforestation

Posted October 29, 2023 by Southworth Forest

The Notice of Application suggests that none of the community evidence submitted thus far has influenced the County's decision to ignore existing environmental impacts since the 2019 violation.

On October 23rd, Kitsap County withdrew its State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) determination for the after-the-fact permit (20-04869) to legalize the code-violating 2019 deforestation in Southworth. The associated final administrative decision is also to be withdrawn. The County admitted mishandling this permit by failing to follow proper procedures in providing a Notice of Application to all neighbors within 800 feet of the forest conversion. That notice has now been issued.

The County also reversed course temporarily because several community members asked its permit reviewers about specific details of the proposal for which the reviewers did not know the answers. Since the permit approval relied heavily upon incomplete and contradictory information submitted by code violators Meghan and Clint Edwards, the reviewers were forced to withdraw approval on the planning/zoning and environmental aspects until Edwards provides additional clarification on clearing limits and road orientations on revised site plans.

Despite parts of the permit undergoing further review, the Southworth community (and beyond) now has until November 9th to provide final comment on the impacts of the deforestation. The County has stated that they do not anticipate revising their Determination of Non-Significance on the environmental impacts based on this community feedback. This rubber stamp comes despite substantial submissions of evidence of existing impacts caused by the 2019 violation to the surrounding area, most of which apparently ignored by reviewers.

While we do not expect the County to alter its environmental Determination of Non-Significance as it should, submitting comments now will be vital to the appeal of that decision to the Hearing Examiner later. A community group is preparing a lengthy summary comment pointing to extensive evidence of impacts since 2019 to show that the Edwards' submittals are misleading and erroneous at best and potentially fraudulent at worst. This comprehensive comment to be submitted on November 8th will be used as the basis for the appeal later.

Your comments are important, too! The County must address public comments in the final environmental decision, so make sure your voice is heard. The Notice of Application instructs us to contact lead permit reviewer Cecilia Olsen at colsen@kitsap.gov or (360) 337-5777. This is your final chance to comment on this impactful deforestation in Southworth.

The community's goal is for the County to disallow further removal of forest as proposed by Edwards and require them to restore a non-livestock conifer forest buffer around all violated edges of their property. These mitigations may not stop all the impacts, but they are the most practical solutions available.