It's got meadows, and an eagle's nest, some wetlands. Known as the Saratoga Woods, the property has been eyed for development since the early 1990s. That plan would have meant the installation of the largest septic system in the state, Kendy said. Save the Woods pulled the plug on the development plans by showing the project did not comply with the state law for managed growth. How to help Donations can be made to the Whidbey-Camano Land Trust.
Donations are tax deductible.
Negotiations for the property purchase started in late December. Late last week, the Whidbey-Camano Land Trust announced that it had acquired a purchase option for the property. Save the Forest is conducting the fund-raising effort for the trust, Kendy said. If the money can be raised, the land trust would purchase the property and transfer the title to the land to Island County. A conservation easement would keep the land as a park and protect it from development.