When the planning for the Environmental Conference began it seemed risky to think people would give up a sunny Saturday morning to talk about zoning. Those who showed up learned how to change legislation, and they learned how much it costs to sue county government when the county planning department fumbles a permit decision like the Tiny Home Village in Spanaway.
They also learned that the best way to change county government is to vote in November for Jani Hitchen for County Council and for Ryan Mello for County Executive.
In Ryan Mello’s key note address at the conference, he discussed the goals of Growth Management Act and how it preserved rural lands and agricultural lands from development. And how this made it possible to fund better county services in the Community Plan areas.
He talked about shifting road building funds from rural areas to solve the congestion in the Community Plan Areas that are marked for increased population. He also said he would see that the Tiny Home Village received a scientific review of the wetlands and the wildlife whose habitat is threatened by a 289 homes in a Residential Resource Zone.
Tiffany Odell from Parks talked about funding for county parks into areas with there is an increase in population. She showed how these funds were spent for trails, parks and persevering natural areas like wildlife corridors like Clover and Spanaway creeks. No other county agency touches the people in such a positive way. And, as more people move into Community Plan areas the county intends to provide more places for people to recreate.
Council member Jani Hitchen talked about her campaign and the practical programs the county has funded to get homeless people off the streets and into a safe place where they can put their lives back together. This funding is for people who have been surprised when they were suddenly living in their cars with their children.
This has happened to so many people who woke up one day and found they couldn’t pay the rent, lost a domestic partner or lost their job. Over the past year, the County Council has funded projects to help people get back on their feet financially and find safe shelter.
Jani favors practical solutions like asking churches to consider providing daycare in rural areas. By sharing churches’ underused facilities with the community, it would lower the cost of daycare by not having to rent or build a new facility.
As a former teacher, she’s familiar with the social and environmental issues and has supported proposals to address them during her tenure on the County Council. Jani talked about the financial challenge to get re-elected, as the opposition party wants to return the County Council majority vote in their favor. She needs volunteers to join her in doorbelling and donations to allow her to match the opposition.
The Environmental Coalition has endorsed Jani Hitchen and you can find out more about her campaign HERE.
The second panel at the Conference reported on a number of issues from updating storm water drains, measuring the ability of aquifers to produce drinking water for continued population expansion, to the frustrating issue of removing Chambers Bay Dam.
Tacoma Rescue Mission, the developer, has been Clearing and grading along Wasmud Road and has created a gravel road to the building site and also installed pipes in creeks without a permit.
Paul Lubbesmeyer from Spanaway Concerned Citizens reported on the county’s proposal to create a Tiny Home Village for the homeless in a Residential Resource zone that is a corridor for endangered wildlife and rare Garry Oak forest protected by the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife.
The County Executive gave the project by the Tacoma Rescue Mission an Executive Priority which skipped required steps and didn’t provide an Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate the zoning, which led to a court appeal by Spanaway Concerned Citizens.
Paul discussed the complexity of the lawsuit and the favoritism the Pierce County Planning Department has given this project. The result has been court costs of nearly $140,000 to Spanaway Concerned Citizens. Another $30,000 will be needed to finish the appeal in Thurston County Court.
Also an area of concern about the timing of county planning giving out a Site Development Plan and a Clearing and Grading plan to the builder before the superior court judge has a chance to review the case. If the county gives a Clearing and Grading permit before the judge makes a reading, the clearing could destroy wildlife habit and increased traffic on Wasmud Road could kill the wildlife.
Rick Dupea, who is Chairperson of the Parkland/Spanaway/Midland Land Use Advisory Commission (LUAC), invited people to become more involved in the LUAC. The commission advocates for local neighbors to ask for changes in zoning and other land use matters. He welcomes comment letters and emails to the LUAC through him, at rdupea@gmail.com.
The LUAC voted for Denial of the permit for the Tiny Home Village and is currently considering new amendments to the Growth Management regulations.
For many of us who communicate mostly by e-mail and phone, the conference was a place for folks from across the county to put a face with a name and get to know each other better.