On December 7, 2015, the Lakewood, WA City Council will take final action on the Lakewood City Planning Commission resolution to rezone the 7 acre undeveloped property, located at the intersection of Gravelly Lake Drive and Veterans Drive, from Family Estate (R-1) to Single Family (R-3), thereby creating the possibility of building up to 33 houses when 10 can currently be accommodated, thus depreciating the character of one of Lakewood’s most defining physical attributes. Please join me in urging the City Council to reject this proposal and retain the R-1 zone and the character of Gravelly Lake Drive.

Details: This resolution is not in response to a property owner/developer request; rather, this is an initiative on the part of the Lakewood Planning Commission. Here are the potential effects of this rezoning: (a) as many as 33 single family dwellings, on individual lots of 7,500 ft2, could be built; (b) a significant number of old growth trees (Douglas Fir, Garry Oak, Madrone, etc.) would be removed to accommodate such housing density; (c) a significant increase in the number of privately owned and service vehicles could be expected to add to the traffic stresses of both Gravelly Lake Drive and Veterans Drive, as well as Washington Boulevard, which is one block north; (d) an unknown, but potentially significant impact, on underlying aquifers between Gravelly Lake and American Lake, with possibly detrimental consequences for the Lakewood Water District; (e) an extremely detrimental impact on the architectural esthetics of the homes and landscaping along Gravelly Lake Drive between Madera and the Tacoma Country & Golf Club. In addition, there is a 1908 red brick building, possibly of historic significance, located in the northeast corner of the property (by the intersection of Gravelly Lake Drive and Veterans Drive) that will in all likelihood be demolished in the course of development.

Under its current Family Estate (R-1) zoning, this 7 acre property could be developed to include approximately 10 individual home sites of 25,000 ft2. This would be consistent with the rest of Gravelly Lake Drive properties, of which there are over 100, all but one of which are larger than 25,000 ft2. The single exception is an 18,000 ft2 short plat of a much larger property. These 100 plus properties along Gravelly Lake Drive do not include the 63 properties that comprise Madera (avg. lot size 20,429 ft2; or, the 16 condo properties comprising Greystone Estate's 5 acres.

The City of Lakewood's Community profile documents that the residents place top priority on preserving the natural beauty within their community and have done so by preserving "its lovely existing single family neighborhoods while creating an urban center that supports multi- family residential in planned areas with high levels of public services."* We believe maintaining the low density of Gravelly Lake Dr is the best way to meet the goals stated in the City's self stated Vision. Please join us in urging the Lakewood City Council to maintain the unique character of Gravelly Lake Drive as one of the important gateway features of our community by signing the petition and by sharing this with others who might care about appropriate city design.