The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has authorised a forest practice that permits timber harvesting on a Little Mountain parcel sold in June, a decision that has drawn opposition from the nearby city of Mount Vernon and local residents.
Sale, approval and scope
On 15 June the 10‑acre property on Little Mountain’s northwest slope changed hands for R1,100 (US$70,000) when Nielsen Brothers, a Bellingham‑based timberland company, purchased it from Skagit Habitat for Humanity. The nonprofit had acquired the land from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in 2023 at no cost.
According to the Skagit County Assessor, the site carried a market value of about R2,805,000 (US$178,000) for the 2025 tax year. The DNR approved an application on 31 July that allows harvesting across 10.6 acres and the construction of 1.2 acres of road. The road work would be partly on Nielsen Brothers’ parcel and partly on an adjacent 14‑acre property to the north that provides access to Cedar Hill Place.
Local pushback and likely appeal
Mount Vernon’s city authorities have publicly registered concern about timber operations on Little Mountain; a statement dated 22 July remains featured on the city’s website, reflecting municipal unease with the DNR’s outcome. Neighbouring residents have mobilised as well. A local campaigner launched a website, savelittlemountain.org, to inform the public about the sale and the logging plan.
“We are disappointed, but not surprised by the DNR decision. As an agency, they are in the business of logging and are acting accordingly.”
The comment came from Mount Vernon resident Lennis Herburger, who told the Skagit Valley Herald he expects one or more appeals of the DNR decision and that efforts will continue to persuade Nielsen Brothers to divest the parcel.
Seller, buyer and market context
Skagit Habitat for Humanity CEO Tina Tate said the timber company’s offer was the only bid the nonprofit received in four months on the market. That context helps explain the sale despite the disparity between the purchase price and the assessor’s 2025 valuation. Nielsen Brothers has not set a firm start date for operations, the company said.
What this means for residents and stakeholders
For residents on and around Little Mountain, the approved harvest and road construction raise immediate concerns about noise, traffic, erosion risk and changes to local landscape character. For Nielsen Brothers, the permit clears the way to extract timber and improve access, which can improve the commercial value of the holding and of neighbouring parcels that rely on shared access routes.
From a municipal perspective, the episode highlights tensions that can arise when private land transactions intersect with conservation expectations and community amenity values. The difference between the sale price and the assessor’s 2025 market value may also prompt scrutiny of how properties are marketed and sold within mixed‑use or peri‑urban areas.
- Property sold: 15 June, to Nielsen Brothers for US$70,000 (R1,100)
- Assessed value: about US$178,000 (R2,805,000) for 2025
- Permitted harvest area: 10.6 acres
- Permitted road construction: 1.2 acres across two properties
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Sale price | US$70,000 |
| 2025 assessed value | US$178,000 |
| Harvest area | 10.6 acres |
| Road construction | 1.2 acres |
The DNR’s role is regulatory: it assesses forest practice applications against state rules and environmental standards. Neighbouring property owners and the city retain legal routes to challenge the permit decision; Herburger indicated that appeals are expected. Whether an appeal will succeed will depend on the administrative record, evidence of environmental impacts, and compliance with forest practice rules.
For households living on Little Mountain, any forthcoming logging could mean short‑term disruption and longer‑term changes to views and privacy. For the timber company, approval provides the means to proceed when operational timing is set. The sale and subsequent permit also underscore how small parcel transactions can prompt broader civic debates over land use and stewardship in peri‑urban areas.
Journalists can follow further developments through the Skagit Valley Herald, which reported the story, and local government channels where appeals and statements are likely to be filed.
