In a recent issue of the Seattle Times, Marilyn Smith, a retired lawyer and former Seattle School Board Member posed this poignant question concerning the status of Seattle in its development as a major city: “As Seattle booms, where is the vision to keep it special?”

That’s a question Mercer Island should ponder for itself. Smith states: “The views available to people walking, riding and sitting are disappearing.”

In Mercer Island’s conflict of people and buildings with the natural environment, the environment will lose, as will the quality of the lives of the people who use and live within these buildings. An equitable balance of the natural and the manmade environments should be sought by our City Council. There are design firms available to develop solutions to such problems. Commitment has to come from the communities themselves. How visionary is our City Council? Isn’t a long-term comprehensive plan of balancing green space with city development important for making our city special for its citizens?

Bob Still

Mercer Island