Save a Forest in Southworth, WA

Southworth Forest Update:

Southworth Clear-Cutters Have History of Erroneous Site Plans

Posted May 5, 2023 by Southworth Forest

Exhibit 1E: A diagram shows inconsistencies between the site plan, submitted intentions, and prior clearing. Edwards misstates the boundaries of their 2019 clearing on the site plan, omits impervious surfaces, and fails to mark trees to be removed on the neighboring property despite marking others to be removed on their own parcel.

In 2019, clear-cutters Meghan and Clint Edwards of 11090 SE Southworth Dr. in Port Orchard submitted an amateurish and erroneous site plan for the Kitsap County danger tree permit they then used to convert roughly four acres of forest to pasture in violation of the law. For their corrective permit, they have once again submitted an inaccurate site plan, this time prepared by Vader Engineering of Tacoma.

The Edwards site plan submitted for this Site Development Activity Permit (SDAP) is vague, incomplete, and erroneous in regards to actual clearing limits and the protection of remaining natural vegetation. The areas of clearing shown on the site plan do not match what Edwards actually cleared within their own parcel in 2019. Aerial photos of the Edwards parcel reveal these discrepancies when compared to the site plan.

While Edwards claims only 2,300 cubic yards of graded dirt for this conversion, the County originally suspected in 2019 that over 5,000 cubic yards were disturbed, hence a recommendation for an SDAP 3 permit. If the top 8+ inches of dirt (on average, including stump removal) was indeed disturbed over 3.8+ acres, then at least 4,100 cubic yards of grading is involved. The County never enforced their original demand of Edwards for a level 3 permit.

Additionally, a farm plan submitted by Edwards in support of their lower-level SDAP permit does not match their main SDAP site plan. The farm plan fails to show proposed new roads on the property while revealing a sizable future barn that is not disclosed on the site plan. Also not addressed on the farm plan are important natural vegetation buffers that remain on the edge of their clearing.

Edwards left these small vegetation buffers in two areas on their west and north boundaries in 2019. Their site plan indicates that these areas are now to be within clearing limits. The buffer to the west is too sparse to be of much protective use, but the buffer to the north offers some protection for neighbors despite the death of several younger fir trees in that buffer. None of this vegetation should be shown within new clearing limits.

Kitsap County permit reviewers must recognize that Edwards has a history of erroneous permit submissions, including their site plans. These discrepancies have already been submitted to the Hearing Examiner and will be reinforced in community comments during that final stage of the permit approval process.

Exhibit 1A: 2017 view

Exhibit 1B: Clearing in red

Exhibit 1C: 2019 view

Exhibit 1D: 2020 view

Exhibit 1I: This overhead photo from above the Edwards property in 2017 shows trees on Edwards' eastern side that were removed in 2019 but are not included in the cleared area on their site plan. It additionally shows significant hard surfaces that are also not shown on the site plan. Without this undeclared buffer of trees, neighbors on Level Lloyd Ln. are more exposed to these hard surfaces and Edwards' proposed agricultural operations.

Remaining Buffers Threatened by New Clearing:

Exhibit 1F: The north boundary buffer is seen in the distance from the southeast, with Edwards' clearing in the foreground. (2022)

Exhibit 1G: The north boundary buffer is seen from the southwest, with Edwards' clearing in the foreground. Note the dead fir trees in that area. (2022)

Exhibit 1H: The west buffer is shown on the left side of this photo, with Edwards' clearing in the background. Only five trees of significant size exist in this sparse buffer. (2022)