Kirkland Development should not complain about having to meet higher sustainability standards for development approval for its Renaissance Boardwalk project. It has been known for years that energy conservation measures save money and the environment. Developers prefer to reduce upfront costs and pass expenses to the users. That also passes the costs of climate change on to the rest of us.
While the city has taken time to develop a climate strategy (far longer than many people would like and possibly longer than reasonable to meet timelines supported by the International Panel on Climate Change), Kirkland should have known the direction the city is moving.
Kirkland is asking for substantial tax breaks from the city. It claims it is doing us a favor by removing the old pier. However, doing so is not entirely altruistic: keeping the old dilapidated walkway would create potential liability if guests were hurt there. Replacing the pier also allows easy access to Kirkland’s proposed restaurants and other amenities.
The Columbian should be asking why developers have been allowed to get by with such low standards for so long.
