Opinion ID: 215584
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Salmon Habitat Enhancement Project

Text: The Agreement allows the Weinsteins to construct a “salmon habitat enhancement project” on their property. Under Paragraph 7.2, the City may not oppose the Weinsteins’ development of such a project, provided the project complies with the Bellevue City Code. The City must also “cooperate with Weinstein in securing” any necessary city permits for the project. The phrase “salmon habitat enhancement project” is not defined by the Settlement Agreement. Relying on a dictionary definition of “habitat,” the district -5- court concluded that the phrase refers to a project that “improve[s] the place where salmon is ordinarily found.” But “habitat” is also defined as “the kind of site or region with respect to physical features (as soil, weather, elevation) naturally or normally preferred by a biological species.” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary 1017 (2002). The phrase “salmon habitat enhancement project” is subject to more than one reasonable meaning, and the mutual intent of the parties remains a question of fact to be determined at trial. See Tanner Elec. Coop. v. Puget Sound Power & Light Co., 911 P.2d 1301, 1310 (Wash. 1996). We reverse the grant of summary judgment in favor of the City on this claim, and remand for further proceedings.