At the present time our main concern is opposing UIATF's development of an oversized building that does not fit in the park according to the Master Plan and that violates the UIATF lease. FRIENDS would like to see the UIATF realize its dream. The proposed People's Lodge must be built in a commercially zoned, suitable location so it can be an economically viable undertaking. Discovery Park is not that place. We support finding another site. If a suitable site cannot be found, then we support the original plans to build several small buildings. The leased area would then be more like a Native American village rather than a commercial conference center/restaurant/museum all in one building. One massive building will have entirely different uses than a group of smaller buildings. The total footprint of a group of smaller buildings would be much smaller (despite what is in the DEIS). The impact on the park would be considerably less.

We also oppose proposed enlargement of the West Point Sewage Treatment Plant. We endorse the county executive's preferred alternative of building a third plant in the growth areas of north King/south Snohomish counties. The King County Council in June voted for the third plant but also voted to build the "Kenmore Interceptor", claiming it is necessary to prevent overflow of sewage into homes in the Kenmore area. We feel that the vote to build the interceptor is a roundabout way of bringing all the northend sewage to West Point. We will continue to work to prevent backup and spills of raw sewage into Puget Sound and other waterways in this area.

Acquisition of the "500 Area" of federal land west of the Visitor Center (currently occupied by 2-story barracks) to be surplussed in Discovery Park. The 1986 Development Plan, which expands on and clarifies the 1972 Master Plan, states that "this area of the Park shall be returned to open space…The 500 Area is to be a relatively natural open space area in keeping with the overall philosophy of the Park… It is essential that the 500 Area ultimately become part of the Park and not be used for some other purpose."