The Garry Oak Coalition is a Washington State 501(c)3 non-profit
dedicated to environmental education. We are also a community
action group based on Lakewood, committed to raising awareness of
this native tree species and its unique ecosystem.
It’s also helpful if the city can hear from you. You can send
your comments to the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and City Council Members
to the City Clerk, Briana Schumacher, who will forward them:
<[email protected]>
Finally, if you’d like to join our campaign for a more
sustainable Lakewood, contact us at [email protected].
We need help with doorknocking like this and other ways to put
pressure on the city and to reach more Lakewood residents.
The city made a propaganda film about what a great job they are
doing preserving trees in Lakewood. At one point Bugher says that
the construction of an apartment complex (Echelon) “allowed us to
preserve THOUSANDS of oak trees that might have
otherwise been lost” (!!!)
Here is the link to the Facebook post with the film - please
comment below it:
Please contact us about the former OAKWOOD school on 85th Street
South here.
There are 80+ Garry oaks on the former Oakwood
Elementary School property, which people now use as a park for
strolling, and taking children and dogs for walks. Every single
tree is slated to be destroyed for another warehouse. The largest
oak we measured there had a 46" diameter at breast
height (DBH). (A 250 year old oak can be 27" DBH.)
A just 6" Garry oak qualifies as a “significant
tree” …
This morning someone from the planning department called me to
tell me that indeed, the oak cutting at Alfaretta was indeed
illegal, that code enforcement will be sent out today and that the
owner will be fined. I do not know yet how much, nor whether the
tree-cutting company will also be fined.
She also told me something to the effect that the owner would be
instructed not to do anything else to the property until her
application is decided on, and appeal process over, if that
happens.
