RESUB2 BLD2023-1127+LANDSCAPE EXEMPTION LETTER+5.3.2024_3.33.58_PM+4236784CITY OF EDMONDS MIKE ROSEN
MAYOR
CITY HALL • 121 51h AVENUE NORTH • EDMONDS, WA 98020
425.771-2525 • fax 425.771.0266 • www.edmondswa.gov
Parks, Recreation & Human Services Department
',7c. 1 0"
Date: February 7, 2024
To: Tristian Sewell, Planner
Susan McLaughlin, Director Planning & Community Development Department
Re: Permit Application BLD2023-1127, Mathay Ballinger Park Improvements
Type 1 Landscape Exemption
The City of Edmonds Parks, Edmonds Parks, Recreation & Human Services department (Parks
department) has a permit application in review for park improvements at Mathay Ballinger Park
in south Edmonds. The requirement of Type 1 Landscape 20.12.030(A) was noted as a
requirement in a November 16, 2023 memo from Tristan Sewell during the permit review
process. The Parks Department is requesting an exemption through the EDC 23.40.230(A)
Exemption Request and Review Process with director review, for several reasons.
Best management practices including Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
recommend against heavy vegetative screening around public park amenities such as restrooms
and sports courts as well as park perimeters. The Type 1 landscape buffer of 25' depth of "very
dense sight barrier" is directly adjacent to and block views into and out from these two park
amenities as well as two side perimeters of the park.
Unfortunately, Mathay Ballinger Park is the location of frequent illicit and illegal activities,
evidenced by parks maintenance activities including cleaning up alcohol containers and drug
paraphernalia and repeated reports of individuals camping in the park. Strategically, the city
has modified the park landscape to clear out understory of shrubs and plants as well as limb up
all trees at least 8' in height to provide visibility into and throughout the park. This landscape
buffer would counter our attempts to increase safety in the park by these landscape
modification measures.
In addition, Mathay Ballinger Park is a small, 1.82-acre neighborhood park and is the only city -
owned park serving the entire south and southeast Edmonds. Every square foot of open lawn
area is important for this park and losing 6,250 square feet to inaccessible and unusable
landscape bed is detrimental for this small park.
Thank you for the consideration and please let me know if more information is needed.
• Incorporated August 11, 1890 •
Sister City - Hekinan, Japan