Local campaign aims to protect land from new development

“I would summarize it as: great houses, wrong place. There's got to be another way to add those 35 homes,” Sally Lawrence, Chair of the Steering Committee for Save Coal Creek, said.

On Saturday, Feb. 11, an estimated 120 plus people gathered at Newcastle Beach Park for the March & Rally to Save Coal Creek – one step in a years-long effort to preserve a 12 acre property west of Lakemont Boulevard in Bellevue from being developed into homes. It lies between the Coal Creek Natural Area to the west and the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park to the east.

While some left early Saturday morning and hiked there, others came by car, all meeting at noon to show their support for the issue. Tables were set up to write letters to local officials and sign a growing petition of over 5,000 signatures. The event was highlighted by speeches from local political and environmental leaders including King County councilwoman and former Bellevue mayor Claudia Balducci, as well as Lawrence herself, among others.

“It’s super exciting to see so many people come out of all ages,” Kelly Jiang, vice president of the Issaquah Alps Trails Club, said. “Having people of all ages come out and support and show that the citizens really care about this is obviously very exciting to see.”

Upon its purchase over half a decade ago with the Isola Homes development in mind, the Issaquah Alps Trails Club (IATC) formed Save Coal Creek, advocating for the City of Bellevue to purchase the land and keep it as a park, extending the Coal Creek Natural Area that already borders it on three sides.

“It makes sense geographically these should be part of the same space,” Lawrence said.

A new housing development would negatively impact the natural area and would be better off in more densely populated urban areas, Save Coal Creek argues, ones closer to public transit and grocery stores, for example.

“I think all of us here would agree, it's just in the wrong place. We don't protest against houses that are being built where they ought to be,” Lawrence added.

Local leaders including Paul Winterstein (left), Issaquah Alps Trails Club Executive Director, and Sally Lawrence (right), Chair of the Steering Committee for Save Coal Creek, gave speeches.

With a proposed location on an already busy Lakemont Boulevard, many believe additional traffic will add to the danger for humans, particularly young ones, walking or riding bikes without sidewalks. In late summer when many streams in the area dry up, animals will be in greater danger as well when crossing the street looking for drinkable water.

“With climate change, it gets more and more important that we save these parcels,” Issaquah Alps Trails Club President Anne Newcomb said.

The new development will remove numerous trees and grasses currently providing vital shade and protection from human activity to the salmon-filled waters.

“We need to do everything we can to keep our streams, creeks, and rivers as cool as possible so the salmon can get back and forth and still live,” Newcomb added.

Kelly Jiang (left), VP of Issaquah Alps Trails Club, along with fellow board members and/or friends, ran from the Red Town Trailhead to Newcastle Beach Park holding a salmon to raise awareness.

In addition to nature, dating back to the Civil War, the area is full of a rich and diverse coal mining history worth protecting, locals argue.

Because of the mining, Lawrence says she’s happily surprised how green the area is. “It’s actually just amazing we have the nature that we do right there. This is a special place.”

Following a visit to the Bellevue City Council last December, a public hearing will be held on March 2 to determine whether building permits will be given or not.

Lawrence encourages people in Newcastle to get involved and speak out about the issue, to sign the petition and speak to local leaders in-person or by letter. “It's really important that Newcastle residents get involved. It's not just Bellevue. It’s all King County. It's really a regional resource,” she says.

With the land in question located at a key intersection between two thriving natural areas, Save Coal Creek hopes Bellevue will honor its self-given title of being a ‘City in a Park” and help preserve the wildlife and hiking trails for generations to come.

“It is such a great place for families to come out and enjoy nature and spend time together,” Jiang said. “That's one of the reasons we care about protecting the land.”

Head to savecoalcreek.org for more information and to sign the petition. Newcastle Living attempted to contact Isola Homes who did not respond for a comment.

IATC is a nonprofit who advocates for the preservation, protection and promotion of the land and wildlife in the Issaquah Alps.

This article was written for the March 2023 edition of Newcastle Living magazine.