Cumberland residents to discuss development

Published 1:20 pm Thursday, December 11, 2008

By Kevin Hanson, The Courier-Herald

Residents of the rural Cumberland area, fearing their quiet lifestyle is in jeopardy, have planned a public meeting for Tuesday night.

Sponsoring the session is a new group, Citizens for the Green River Springs, with assistance from the more-established Middle Green River Coalition. The meeting is set for 7 to 9 p.m. at the Cumberland fire station, 35421 Veazie-Cumberland Rd.

Lisa Parsons, a spokeswoman for the Middle Green River Coalition, said area residents have plenty to worry about, with one new housing development under way and another in the planning stages.

Deep Lake Estates is already being marketed, with newspaper ads offering lots three to five acres in size. The cost is pegged at $125,000 to $150,000 each.

In an e-mailed message, Parsons warns that further development of the rural area could diminish current residents' water supplies, prohibit access of traditional recreation areas and bring increased traffic. In a subsequent telephone interview, she maintains King County is simply not addressing the issue of water resources.

Concerns shouldn't be limited to those in the immediate area, she said, pointing out that the city of Black Diamond's water availability could be impacted.

Sara Davis, a resident of the Deep Lake area for two years, has been rallying her neighbors. "I'm not a radical environmentalist, but there are sensitive areas that need to be protected," she said.

Her well went dry for six weeks last summer, Davis said, and she fears the situation will grow worse when additional homes begin pulling water from the underground supply. "I can guarantee we're going to have water issues," she said.

Davis also worries what the addition of upscale homes to the area will do to property values and accompanying tax rates.

Kevin Hanson can be reached at khanson@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald