My family has been part of the Lake Alice Community for about 50 years. I have been worried about the massive expansion of Snoqualmie Ridge since it began and have gone to so many hearings and meetings on the subject it would frost your candles.

I went to the King County Council meeting held in Carnation lately and had a chance to listen to Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson talk. Mayor Larson is no stranger to our community on Lake Alice Road. It is no secret that he wants to build a “connector” between Snoqualmie Ridge and Lake Alice Hill Road.

He “says” that he just wants an “emergency connector” for fire trucks to rescue our community. Truth is, we have only had one or two fires in 25 years, neither of which needed backup. The Snoqualmie Fire Department would only be backup. So why does Matt want a 60-foot right of way for this “emergency access?” Why does he want to pave it? Why does he want to have the paving two lanes wide?

The answer came when he talked to the King County Council. The Lake Alice Connector was the first thing he talked about. I have worked long and hard to protect our green belt buffer to preserve rural Lake Alice Road. Matt Larson told the King County Council that our buffer was like the “Berlin Wall.” No kidding. He wants to tear it down.

I want to know who he thinks the communists are? Is that what he thinks of green belts?

The fact is that the Lake Alice Community Association gave up its rights to appeal development of Snoqualmie Ridge to get the right to agree whether an emergency access was needed. The city gave us their word right in my living room, and they put it in writing. They are ready to go right ahead with putting in what they want to put in without even talking to us about it. Matt Larson has no credibility with me.

Matt Larson’s real goal is the Lake Alice Connector that would funnel Snoqualmie Ridge traffic down Lake Alice Road, past the Trailhead Park where traffic is supposed to slow to 15 mph and onto the over-crowded Preston-Fall City Road. Bad idea. The access to the Snoqualmie Ridge should be a four-lane Snoqualmie Parkway to I-90. The city should honor its agreements.

Bill McKelvey

Fall City