As one who has lived a long while in this blessed Snoqualmie Valley,
I would like to comment on the retirement of Weyerhaeuser’s Jim
Nyberg, the “father” of Snoqualmie Ridge.
In the beginning, citizens found the scope of the Jim
Nyberg/Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Co. (WRECO) Master Planned
Development (MPD) so vast it was almost unbelievable. Targeting urban
density development in a rural area was against state, county and
community comprehensive plans. The Snoqualmie Valley was designated to stay rural
“far into the future.”
There are rules to guide growth, but Nyberg/WRECO, in its quest to
realize millions of dollars from residential conversion of its now surplus
forest land, subverted the language of the planning documents and
pretended that 2,200 acres of re-growth plateau land was the “logical expansions
area” for the tiny community of Snoqualmie. They contended that 2,000 houses
and 6,000 people were just the right expansion of the 1,500 city
of Snoqualmie residents! Nyberg/WRECO claimed to address the
concerns of the city of Snoqualmie, but in truth, I believe the main agenda
was profit.
That Nyberg/WRECO could get away with the urban
Snoqualmie Ridge MPD with the support of the former Snoqualmie mayor and staff
is still a puzzle. How could they condone a huge, separate, self-contained
community? (I do recall then City Planning member Chuck Peterson
voted “no” on the ridge proposal and had
an interesting alternative plan, but no takers).
Nyberg/WRECO made lots of promises and cost agreements to
realize their new urban city. I think many were not worth the paper they
were written on. Early on, Nyberg/WRECO paid for the Snoqualmie
Annexation Study that – surprise – said their land should be annexed, but, the city
of Snoqualmie was obligated to reimburse the property owners!
Last year, Nyberg/WRECO tried to justify approval for $60 million
in tax-free bonds for the Snoqualmie Ridge development. The tax-free
debt would save the company $14 million in interest payments over 20 years.
A Seattle newspaper editorialized that this Nyberg/WRECO development
tax break couldn’t pass the smell test. Also, Nyberg/WRECO signed
an agreement that they would not seek to develop an additional 700
contiguous acres for 10 years. Well, they’re going after that property and more
development now.
We will all be interested in watching how Nyberg/WRECO
(and/or their successors) handle all the impacts of their new city. I have a videotape
of an interview with Jim Nyberg, and as the reporter asks about ridge
impacts, Mr. Nyberg keeps repeating, “We will pay for everything we impact.” He
was specifically asked about schools and buses and he continued to reply in
the same manner.
One of the places I will especially remember Mr. Nyberg will be at
the Snoqualmie Falls viewpoint. I will remember the hundreds of houses
he planned for the viewscape to the west. We, Friends of Snoqualmie
Valley, fought Nyberg/WRECO, his Seattle elevator attorneys and PR
people. When we won, I remember him saying it was like a kick in the stomach
to lose those ridge houses.
The 1.5 million Falls visitors should be glad Nyberg/WRECO
lost that battle, as the undeveloped view is a significant economic and
environmental resource to the community and of special value as a sacred place
to our Snoqualmie Tribe members.
I am proud to be remembered as one of the stalwart members of
Friends of Snoqualmie Valley who spent many years trying to prevent the
sprawling of yet another massive development. Although we ultimately lost the
battle, we put up a great fight and made a difference in the final outcome.
In conclusion, I remind Jim Nyberg that what you do is who
you are. He must live with that.
JoAnn Klacsan
North Bend
