This letter concerns the current Mercer Island Center for the Arts (MICA) state environmental SEPA checklist and notice of application file no: ZTR16-002 permitting process.

The city of Mercer Island has now engaged in a process to allow a private development on public parkland in Mercerdale Park. No further action should be taken by the city of Mercer Island until all voters, property managers, business owners and any and all stakeholders on Mercer Island are each notified by U.S. mail, public announcements in the newspaper, city websites and any notice required for a series of public meetings.

All vested parties should be given the opportunity to comment about the proposed changes due to the scope, size, ownership, and impact of the proposed private development in the appearance and utility of downtown Mercer Island. A full public hearing should be required for such a radical change, which will affect all Mercer Island residents.

As one citizen had commented, many of us moved here for the quiet community, the schools and the parks. Do not ruin this for us.

Building a 34,000-square-foot building in the last remaining green space in downtown Mercer Island will forever and irrevocably change Mercer Island. If you do not think so, drive by the new Northwood school and compare the size of the proposed private building with the new school. Imagine that building in Mercerdale Park.

Jackie Dunbar

Mercer Island