Lacey parks commissioner resigns after speaking out on Meridian Market & Gas plan
A parks commissioner is among those who have spoken out about a controversial development proposed for northeast Lacey, opposite a city park.
And Sarah Daniels, who has served on the volunteer advisory body for four years, took it a step further and announced early Monday that she is resigning from the board out of frustration with the lack of parks board input on the proposal.
The proposed project is known as Meridian Market & Gas, and developers plan to build a convenience store and gas pumps at 8808 Campus Glen Drive NE. That site is across from Meridian Neighborhood Park.
The proposal has attracted hundreds of comments in opposition to it and neighbors have staged multiple sign-waving protests at the site. Daniels also has submitted written comment to the city and testified during a Lacey hearings examiner hearing about the project.
Although she has specific concerns about the proposal, she said Sunday afternoon that she can’t believe, given the park’s location and the number of people opposed to the development, that it wouldn’t come before the parks board.
“I won’t standby as a parks board member and watch the community voices who are screaming to be heard,” said Daniels, who also lives in the area. “At some point you have to say, ‘No.’”
She said the parks board’s key function is to listen to public testimony and make advisory votes.
Daniels said Sunday afternoon that she was considering resigning from the board, then later made her resignation official in an email to parks board staff and Lacey City Council members.
“I appreciate the fact that the City would benefit from the revenue generated from such a retail opportunity but that does not, should not, preclude the Parks Board from talking about the possible permanent impacts such a development could have on this (or any) of our parks,” she said in her email.
During the hearings examiner hearing, Daniels said the proposed development is completely incompatible with the community.
In her written comments, she focused more on the market.
“To introduce a retail establishment that will sell tobacco and alcohol products in immediate proximity to this small park feels irresponsible and certainly invites high-risk situations, likely involving neighborhood minors,” Daniels wrote.
Meridian Market & Gas and its request for a conditional use permit come before Lacey City Council at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 2. The meeting can be watched remotely or in person at Lacey City Hall, 420 College St. SE.
This story was originally published May 31, 2022 at 5:45 AM.
