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A number of Ballard industries and businesses have sued the city to stop the completion of the Missing Link of the Burke-Gilman Trail.
Businesses file suit over Missing Link
On June 15, a group of maritime and industrial trade associations and businesses filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court challenging the city’s State Environmental Protection Act review to complete the Missing Link of the Burke-Gilman Trail from 11th Avenue Northwest to the Ballard Locks.
The plaintiffs, called the Ballard Business Appellants, are asking the city to conduct the same level of environmental review required of any private applicant, which they don't believe happened.
“The city’s decision is just another example of the Seattle Department of Transportation not treating people equally” said Eugene Wasserman, president of the North Seattle Industrial Association, one of the trade groups comprising the Ballard Business Appellants.
The appellants said they believe the city must conduct the same level of environmental review and analysis it would require of any industrial business, including thoughtfully and thoroughly reviewing and analyzing the safety and land-use impacts from this project.
The Seattle Department of Transportation is working with its legal department on anything that needs to be done for the suit, department spokesperson Mary Beth Turner said.
The department had no other comment at this time other than that it hasn't looked into the lawsuit in any detail yet, Turner said.
The lawsuit asks the King County Superior Court to order the city to prepare an environmental impact statement for the trail.
The Ballard Business Appellants are asking the city to review and evaluate the environmental impacts of completing the trail, including safety, traffic and compatibility with existing industrial uses.
“We are not anti-trail," Wasserman said. "We just want SDOT to treat everyone fairly and equally and not give itself preferential treatment by failing to follow the law.”
David Hiller, advocacy director for the Cascade Bicycle Club, said the club, which was allowed to intervene in the earlier appeal on behalf of the city, is shocked and disappointed by the lawsuit.
The hearing examiner was clear that the appeal against the trail was baseless and dismissed it point by point, Hiller said. Further delays on completing the Missing Link only serve to make the area less safe for those who work and commute there, he said.
"This foot-dragging has gone on for two decades," Hiller said. "If (the businesses and industries) could ban puppies and rainbows they would, because that's the kind of people they are."
On June 9, Sue Tanner, hearing examiner for the City of Seattle, upheld the Seattle Department of Transportation's determination of non-significance on the environmental impacts of completing the trail.
This ruling shot down an appeal filed Dec. 17 by Salmon Bay Sand and Gravel, the Ballard Chamber of Commerce, Ballard Oil, The Ballard Interbay Northend Manufacturing and Industrial Center, the North Seattle Industrial Coalition and the Seattle Marine Business Coalition.
The Missing Link is planned to run along Shilshole Avenue, Ballard Avenue and possibly Market Street.
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Comments
Get on board
Of course these businesses going to court are "anti-trail." They've been standing in the way of the Burke-Gilman Trail for nearly 30 years. For Mr. Wasserman to say otherwise is laughable, and also sad.
It's a shame that these businesses would prefer the very unsafe conditions that exist now with all the increasing car traffic on Shilshole mixing it up with their trucks and the bikes. The City's interim plan for the BGT makes a lot of sense from a safety and transportation perspective. It will be a great improvement over current conditions.
What especially bothers this observer is the attitude of the Ballard Chamber of Commerce which sided with the small number of obstructionists in the city case. I really hope they get on board with the interim plan, which promises mobility improvements and financial opportunities for businesses on Shilshole and in downtown core.
We can do more to protect maritime businesses and jobs, but we also have to achieve more and safer coexistence in a more dense urban environment. The interim BGT plan does this.
Eugene Wasserman killed Dumbledore
Seems to me these guys are going to oppose every pedestrian and bicycle safety program in the city- please find me an example of where I'm wrong.
Time for a protest!
It's about time for Critical Mass to shut down that street on a Friday afternoon. There are more then enough watering holes to pregame. Particularly the ones who are not members of the vaulted Ballard Chamber of Commerce!
I don't get it
I don't really get it. What do these businesses really stand to gain from stopping the completion of the trail? Sure, it might add to the pedestrian traffic on Shilshole and trucks might have to look both ways before they turn into the lots, but really what do they gain from not having the trail? Is this just general resistance to change? Is this like some creepy Charleton Heston moment?
"I'll give you Shilshole when you take it from my cold dead hands!" Really?
It seems to me that the businesses only have to gain from having the trail completed. A separation between motorized transports and pedestrians/bikes would make it safer, and increase visibility for the businesses.