Big Leaf Maple on Chimacum Ridge by Robert Tognoli.
As we shared in an update in February eNews and in a story on our website, the Land Trust and our wholly owned subsidiary Olympic Wildland Burial Grounds LLC were exploring the viability of creating a conservation burial ground on a property on Marrowstone Island, on which we hold a conservation easement and which the current landowner wishes to sell.
Strong opposition to this project from Marrowstone Island residents was voiced through feedback to Jefferson County during the public comment period of the permit application, and in direct feedback to the Land Trust.
We’ve determined that the community’s concerns are unlikely to be resolved through further inquiry and dialogue. Therefore, Jefferson Land Trust is ending its exploration of the viability of this project.
Although we’re not moving forward on this project, as the owners of a conservation easement on the land, we’ll continue to work in good faith and partnership with whoever owns the property in the future — with the best ecological interests of the land and its wildlife in mind.
Our commitment to finding the right site(s) for a conservation burial ground and memorial forest in Jefferson County remains strong. We’ll continue to keep you updated regularly on project developments.
