Permit Allows Cutting of Old Growth Forest and Destroys Wildlife Habitat
Six weeks after The Environmental Coalition of Pierce County filed a complaint and sent photos of Tacoma Rescue Mission putting in new culverts, dumping truck loads of gravel into two creeks at the Spanaway Marsh, and destroying living trees without a permit, the Pierce County Planning Department sent a Violation Notice to Tacoma Rescue Mission. […]
Rural Bonus Density Amendment Preserves Wildlife Corridors.
by Kirk Kirkland and Claudia Finseth Rural Bonus Density designation is removed from the PC Comprehensive Plan by Kirk Kirkland and Claudia Finseth The original Pierce County Comprehensive Plan carefully zoned rural areas so they would stay low density. This was both to keep rural character intact and to help consolidate county resources. But Because […]
Hearing Examiner Approves More Aquaculture in Burley Lagoon
By Kirk Kirkland Burley Lagoon, WA — The Pierce County Hearing Examiner finally delivered their 150-page decision granting a permit to Taylor Shellfish for the largest industrial geoduck farm in Pierce County. The Friends of Burley Lagoon was one of three organizations that appealed the Environmental Impact Statement. They requested the permits be denied. The […]
Can Trump Reverse Climate Change Progress?
In five days, delegations from around the world will convene in Baku, Azerbaijan for the annual United Nations climate summit, called COP29. The Biden administration is widely expected to try to assure the rest of the world that states and local governments in the United States will continue the work of slashing emissions if the […]
Progress Made: Fish Pens, Revoking Geoduck Permits, & Burley Lagoon Permit
In November, several major shoreline issues moved forward in dramatic ways: Washington Department of Natural Resources will prohibit most net fish pens in the state. A federal judge set a schedule to review the latest request to revoke another group of Army Corps of Engineers permits issued without a NWP 48 permit or without environmental […]
County Council Reviews More Comprehensive Plan Amendments
On November 4, the Pierce County Council’s committee on Community Development & Environment reviewed 14 amendments that would have created a fundamental shift in the protection of rural areas by allowing a Bonus Density for new housing construction. Twenty-eight people attended on Zoom or in the room. The speakers debated the bonus density on whether […]
Report of Water Steward on Three County Projects
Some goals require a lifetime to achieve. Al Schmauder has worked for over 20 years to raise money for the removal of this dam that stops Chinook salmon from migrating upstream. After the funds were appropriated by Congress, it was the local public works department that gave the dam a low priority. The design for […]
Developer Builds Roads, Destroys Wildlife Habitat Without State or County Permits
On October 4, 2024, Pierce County Planning staff made an inspection of Wasmund Road near Spanaway and Audubon Creeks. They were investigating a complaint about digging and excavation without a permit. They found that installation of two culverts in the road and extensive gravel added to the road and on JBLM property. The Tacoma Rescue […]
What Happened at the Fall Environmental Conference?
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 […]
Lakewood Receives $20 Million for Homeless Shelter
The Low Income Housing Institute in cooperation with the city of Lakewood now has $20.2 million funding to buy the Candlewood Suites in Lakewood. It will be converted into a shelter for people experiencing homelessness in Pierce County. The shelter will have 77 suites for about 85 people including couples, singles, and those with pets. […]
Rosie Ayala’s Election to County Council is Essential for Democratic Majority
Rosie Ayala is running for Pierce County Council in District 4, the seat that will soon be vacated by Ryan Mello at the end of his second and final term. Her council seat is essential to keep the County Council Blue. She won over 66% of the vote in the August 6 primary election. When […]
Key Races for Upthegrove and Hitchen: Onward to November
Jani Hitchen has Strategy to Win in November Pierce County Councilmember Jani Hitchen faces a tough campaign as the Republican candidate received 47% of the vote, Democrat Danny Hankins received 12%, and Jani Hitchen received 42%. In a conversation with Hitchen last week, she has analyzed the vote and has a strategic plan to win […]
Gravel Mine Calls for Destruction of Wetlands from Dewatering Aquifer
A proposed mining expansion in the City of DuPont has generated some concern with its environmental impacts. The mine expansion will drain the local groundwater that feeds into a creek along the popular Sequalitchew Trail. And Edmond Marsh, a popular birding area, will lose its water supply. The city’s Critical Area Ordinance and Growth Management […]
Will Gig Harbor Voices Be Heard by Hearing Examiner?
By Kirk Kirkland The fate of Gig Harbor’s Burley Lagoon hangs in the balance while community members await the decision of the Pierce County Hearing Examiner. The community is requesting the Examiner to deny a permit for a 25-acre industrial geoduck operation. If approved, it would likely become the largest geoduck site in the region, […]
Environmental Leaders Running for Office Need to Your Vote!
Ryan Mello is running for Pierce County Executive stepping up from being chair of the County Council. Other councilmembers are leaving empty seats that could cause a change in the environmental leadership on the council. Your vote in the August 6 primary election can make a big difference in the future of our county. _________________________________________________ […]
You’re Invited to Environmental Coalition’s Fall Conference
What is the needed balance between open space and suburban homes that is necessary to make Spanaway more livable. These and other questions about livability will be discussed at Environmental Conference held on September 28 _______________________________________________________________ You’re Invited to Environmental Coalition’s Conference! Save this date: Saturday, September 28th, the Environmental Coalition will host our Fall […]
Dave Upthegrove: A Lifelong Champion of the Environment
Dave Upthegrove wins Statewide Automatic Recount! As of September 4th, Dave Upthegrove has officially been declared the 2nd-place finisher in the race for WA Commissioner of Public Lands. After finishing 51 votes ahead of Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson when the first count was certified, the razor-thin margin triggered a statewide automatic hand recount. The recount […]
The High Price of Environmental Justice in Pierce County
Both Tacoma’s Planning Department and Pierce County Planning Department have circumvented the state Environmental Policy Act by making a Designation of Nonsignficance that does not evaluate significant impacts on large projects, like Tiny Home Village in Spanaway and the South Tacoma Warehouse District. Is there a way to change this policy? ___________________________________________________________________ The High Price […]
Newsletter for August 2024
Save the date: Saturday, September 28th, the Environmental Coalition will host a Fall Conference about the future of growth management n Pierce County. This is the 30th anniversary of the first County Comp Plan. From 9am to Noon, we’ll discuss changes in Pierce County’s Planning Department that will provide residents with a significant voice on […]
Turning Suburban Sprawl into Community
by Kirk Kirkland How would you like to make the suburban sprawl around you into a real livable community? The Environmental Coalition of Pierce County invites you to share your ideas at their Environmental Conference this September. With a Democratic majority on the Pierce County Council, we are living at an opportune time to make […]