Vancouver to fight lawsuit against Stay Safe Community

Vancouver’s City Attorney’s Office is prepared to fight the lawsuit that developer Herontide II LLC filed last week against the city for blocking access to its development near the North Image Safe Stay Community.

“The city understands the serious impact that construction disagreements can have on all affected residents and parties,” city attorney Jonathan Young wrote in a statement to The Columbian. The office is prepared to file an appearance in opposition to the lawsuit, Young added.

Herontide filed a lawsuit against the city last week, alleging that its North Image Safe Stay Community at 11400 N.E. 51st Circle cut off access for the company’s construction vehicles to reach its multifamily housing site nearby.

The housing project, which is planned to have 60 units at 5264 N.E. 121st Ave., was approved by the city before the Safe Stay Community came about, the lawsuit’s complaint claimed.

Herontide’s complaint said the city declined its request for alternative access to its construction site by way of a city-owned bypass route around the community.

“The city declined this request, stating that the use of the unpaved roads by construction vehicles would disturb the 20 tenants of the Safe Stay Community and result in negative environmental impacts,” the complaint read. The company went on to allege that the city began driving its own large construction trucks along the route this summer.

“The city is committed to taking necessary steps to protect Vancouver’s critical water resources and preserve the quality of life of those residing in the City’s Safe Stay Communities,” Young’s statement concluded.