ISSAQUAH, Wash. — There’s a fight to keep a portion of the eastside’s Cougar Mountain from being developed for housing.
A group called Save Cougar Mountain, made up of 300 local people, are fighting a proposal by Windward Real Estate Services to keep over 50 new homes from being built on a piece of the mountain located in Issaquah, the Bellevue Reporter reported.
The land being sought for development reportedly sits above Newport Way NW and SR 900, and Windward has submitted a land-use application to the city of Issaquah for it to be developed.
According to the Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter, the land is owned by the Bergsma and Rech families.
Why residents are rallying to save land
Save Cougar Mountain said the land needs to be preserved because wetland, streams and steep slopes would be affected, citing 60 percent of the acreage sought after includes critical space.
The Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter stated that Save Cougar Mountain members believed 22 acres of trees would be cut down.
According to the the Bellevue Reporter, one member of the group said the development is high-impact and would have an adverse impact on a nearby salmon-bearing Tibbetts Creek.
That member said in the Bellevue Reporter, building a park or open space would be the best use of the property, citing the land’s close proximity to a transit center, making the park easy to get to for those who love hiking and would catch the bus from Seattle to Issaquah.
The Bellevue Reporter states besides nature preservation, Save Cougar Mountain members are concerned about landslide risks. The proposed housing development would need a 12 percent grade road requiring the removal 80 to 85 cubic yards of soil, one member said.
According to the Bellevue Reporter, geotechnical studies done on the land showed no risk of landslides.
Save Cougar Mountain also points out the city's municipal code as a problem, stating it does not align with the city's values in the Issaquah Comprehensive Plan.
Why developers are seeking this area
Now the president of Windward Real Estate Services, Jim Tosti, said the area needs housing and would be more valuable to the Eastside, which is growing rapidly.
Tosti told the Bellevue Reporter, “There’s a need here and we’re just responding to a need.” He went on to tell the newspaper that the property is optimal for homes because it is within city limits, the great view, setting and the need for more housing.
Issaquah city staff are currently reviewing the land-use application submitted by Windward Real Estate Services.
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