Smoke and Mirrors in Corvallis

Corvallis has a long tradition of protecting the streams, creeks, watersheds, and rivers in and adjacent to the city.  Dunawi Creek Tour - City of Corvallis is an example of what the city does for protection. However, the city follows this tradition only when it is convenient. The newly approved Creekside Center development, at the northwest corner of Philomath Blvd. and 53 St., is a project that as approved will destroy an Ash Wetland and severely impair Dunawi Creek.

Both the city and the developer have recognized this wetland for what it is. See photos of warning signs now on the site. The smoke and mirrors comes into play with the unique remedy the city gave to the developer for mitigating the destruction of the wetland on the south side of Dunawi Creek. The city requested the developer to build a 12 foot wide asphalt hiking trail through the wetland on the north side of Dunawi Creek. Hmm!! interesting reasoning here on the part of the city planners.

Liz and Bob Frenkel, both local seasoned riparian and political experts, have brought this misguided reasoning to the attention of both the city's planning commission and the city council. The city has completely ignored this information and approved the development which will include a Walgreen Drug store, several shops, and apartments. Only one city council member objected to this development. Surprisingly one of the Pacific Green Party members of the council approved the project. The other Pacific Green Party member recused himself from voting.
I wonder if Walgreen Drug knows that it is participating in the destruction of, in the city's own words,  "one of Corvallis' wild and wonderful urban streams."