I would like to respond to your recent article on Northgate activistsı efforts to daylight Thornton Creek (on Northgate Mallıs south lot). Having been a party to the Northgate I and Northgate II litigation of Northgate Mallıs expansion proposals, I am intimately familiar with the particulars of this situation.

I was particularly disturbed by Thornton Creek Legal Defense Fund and Citizens for a Liveable Northgateıs suggested compromise that THEY would ³allow² the developer (Simon Property Group) to proceed with the project if Simon agreed to daylight Thornton Creek. These two citizens groups do not have the authority to ³allow² what would be Northgate Mallıs General Development Plan 3. The Cityıs Department of Construction and Land Use must follow due process, which includes public meetings and comments. DCLU, not special interest groups, ³allow² revised projects to go forward.

There are then potentially other citizens or groups that may choose to appeal GDP3 even if TCLDF and CFLN have made a deal with Simon to not litigate if they are given the (agreement to daylight the) creek. Citizens may choose to litigate over what may be increased density or height limits that may be granted to the remaining structures in Simonıs plan in order to accommodate the creek. The creek compromise could conceivably not be the end of litigation for Simon and the City, but merely a stepping stone to the next round of lawsuits brought by neighbors concerned with traffic and shadows created from the bunching of buildings.

Rumor also has it that Simon tires of the hassles attached to the south lot and plans to sell it to an investor that will subdivide the lot. The smaller lots could be sold to separate developers that would not be required to do the more restrictive General Development Plan.

SUE GEVING, Haller Lake