One would hope that any member of the community would respect the community’s expressed will when rules like the CAO are adopted and not want to loophole their way out of it.

Mr. Horowitz may be a bit naive though when he asks, “As a community bank, shouldn?t Horizon willingly abide by the important safeguards included in the city’s Critical Areas Ordinance?” 

The operative word there is “bank” not “community.”

For the uninitiated, it is not a promising undertaking to try and slide on the details when taking on Mr. Horowitz and his friends.

Development may not be stopped entirely, but I guarantee there will not be one square inch more built on than is unequivocally allowed.

You need to go no further than the zoning codes to find that the city will cherry pick that which it intends to enforce and justify it by saying it lacks personnel, money or whatever the excuse du jour happens to be.

Greg,

Thanks for your insights.  I have modified the article and added a question about being naive to think that Horizon Bank might actually consider doing the right thing regardign compliance with the CAO.

Here’s a question for you: What does “community bank” minus “community” equal?

While the intuitive answer would be “bank”, the reality is likely quite different, more like “no bank”.

A community bank is so dependent upon support from its community that it’s unlikely to survive without it.  Back in September 2005, more than 800 members of Horizon Bank’s community sent a strong message when they signed an open letter to the bank stating:

“The community members listed below strongly oppose Horizon Bank?s Fairhaven Highlands development. We are both surprised and disappointed that Horizon would risk alienating a large segment of our community whose residents contribute a substantial share of your profits. Continued pursuit of the Fairhaven Highlands development will have an adverse effect on your reputation, as well as our future banking decisions.
We urge Horizon Bank to immediately withdraw the Fairhaven Highlands development application and to embrace a strategy that will preserve this environmentally sensitive and ecologically rich land for future
generations.”

I have included links below the article to this “Open Letter” and to excerpts of individual comments from community members.

Well, perhaps to demonstrate that I am the most naive of all, let me respond to your rhetorical question with another.

What does “community bank” minus bank mean? 

I would discount the real threat community displeasure, at the scale this project will create, and point out that the bank’s valuation of its asset is more important to them.

The fact is it’s the bank’s, and most people’s, definition of community that needs to change.  They only measure the effects of their actions on their immediate interests, and minimally are concerned with the repercussions on others.

Nowhere is their any recognition that the community includes the land, the forest, the fish and other animals that rely on the web of life, or concern for the generations to come who can not represent their interests.

But everywhere this is the short sighted calculus of our economy and our politics.

Again, thanks for your comments Greg. 

Based on Horizon Bank?s remarks in their own annual statements, I?m not sure that Horizon Bank execs would agree that the measly value of its investment in Chuckanut Ridge is ?more important? than the support of their local community.  They rightfully understand that future profits of community banks depend on strong relationships with their customers and their community. 

At the same time, I agree with you that their actions are currently speaking louder than their words, and it appears they are more concerned about the short term return on Chuckanut Ridge than the real value of these long term relationships.  If Horizon?s reputation continues to sour, it won?t be long before their financial results are adversely impacted for the long-term.  Personally, I?d love to hear the opinions on these issues of Horizon?s new CEO, Rich Jacobson.

Regarding Chuckanut Ridge, the community has overwhelmingly supported the preservation of this ecologically rich and environmentally sensitive urban forest and wetland ecosystem.  Many supporters live nowhere near this property and understand that their community is impacted even if they are not directly affected themselves.  This behavior is in contrast with your description of people in our community as being concerned only with their immediate interests.  If nothing else, Chuckanut Ridge supporters demonstrate the true meaning of community, much as do those citizens involved in the fight to save Squalicum Mountain.

In my opinion, these selfless actions are cause for hope, not pessimism.

Larry, I think you’ve made a good point.  As our society places increased value on environmental and social stewardship, can banks, corporations and governments really ignore their customers for long? It is likely some of these organizations have waited too long and the tipping point has been reached on what is an acceptable position with regard to the environment and development.  Those institutions that don’t embrace this shift in values are not likely to last for long.