Dennis Box

The Courier-Herald

The Bonney Lake Park Board met on June 1 and the members came out in support of the City Council's condemnation of the Schuur Brothers property.

There were five members present of the seven-person panel - Chairperson Carol Ujick, Leota Musgrave, Margaret Farrell, Dan Totten and Darren Proctor. John Ashby and Breann Parriott-Jones were not present.

According to Farrell each member signed a letter in support of the council action. Farrell said the letter will be presented to the council

“It just makes so much sense,” Farrell said. “We don't want to be scapegoats in their deal. We want parks for our kids.”

The City Council voted 6-1 at the May 25 meeting to purchase or condemn for pubic use the 12.55 acres of property adjacent to Allan Yorke Park. Schuur Brothers Construction owns the land and is planning a townhouse development on the property.

Mayor Bob Young vetoed the condemnation ordinance, stating the property was too expensive and was not included in the parks plan, which was written by the Park Board.

Several members of the board felt their intent was not properly presented.

“We asked about that property two or three years ago,” Ujick said. “We were told by the city not to go there because it's not for sale. That's why we didn't put it in the plan. There are 12,000 people up here and there are not enough parks. I hate to see anyone have their property taken away, but we didn't know or we would have gone after it.”

While all members agree the city is in need of more land for parks, one member did not agree with the council's action.

“I was not able to attend the last meeting,” Parriott-Jones said. “But with what I know about the council's decision I would not agree with it. It sends the wrong message to the business community. Typically I support the City Council. They do a great job, but in this instance I agree with the mayor.”

Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@courierherald.com.