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. _________________________________________________ […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Expansion of DuPont gravel mine calls for dewatering the aquifer and long-term destruction of Edmond Marsh — a favorite bird habitat. Protecting and restoring the wetlands was a part of the original lawsuit and agreement with mine owners until the city produced this recent Draft Environmental Impact Statement. _____________________________________________________________________ Edmond Marsh has been the focus […]
In the 26th District, Republican Rep. Spencer Hutchins has decided to step down for personal reasons. His Democratic opponent of two years ago, Adison Richards, is running again this year after losing to Hutchins by only 735 votes. This year, Richards has significantly boosted fundraising while doubling down on campaign strategies that allowed him to nearly […]
How to turn suburban sprawl into a 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 in September. With a Democratic majority on the Pierce County Council, […]
The election of Donald Trump was Emily’s motivation to get involved with the state legislature and now 12 years later she’s running for Congress. ____________________________________________________________________ Emily Randall for U.S. Congress in District 6 by Brett M. Johnson Emily knows what regular people are going through and has a proven record delivering results for our community. […]
By Kirk Kirkland Raising the groundwater high enough to return the summer flow of Clover Creek was the focus of three meetings with members of the County Council in May and June. Few people are available who would drive from Olympia to Tacoma and sit through a 2-hour County Council meeting to only speak for […]
Tiny Home Village Conflict over Wetland Determination by Claudia Riiff Finseth Recently, the Tacoma News Tribune carried some interesting articles related to the Hearing Examiner meetings that had just wrapped up on the proposed use of the Spanaway Marsh for a high-density development. The plan is for a tiny home village for people experiencing chronic […]
Recent Hearing examiner decision called for cutting forests of Oregon white oak and destroying habitat of Western Gray Squirrel, an endanger species. Spanaway Group Files for Reconsideration of Tiny Home Village The Spanaway Concerned Citizens group (SCC) decided to file for reconsideration in their quest to stop the permits for a village of 280 homes […]
Environmental justice and Tiny Home Village When the first yellow sign with public notice went up in the forested area surrounding Audubon Springs, the neighbors had no way of knowing that their appeal of the Tiny home Village with some 280 homes would cost over $100,000. Unfortunately this was only a down payment on […]
Recently passed amendments to review water systems in the county have made it possible to re-think how the county can change the crisis of expanded growth and increased problems with drought, flooding, and water shortages into proposals that could turn these problems into opportunities to recharge aquifers, increase groundwater and get creeks flowing, while at […]
The long-awaited appeal of the Industrial Geoduck Farm in Burley Lagoon ended on May 29. Taylor Shellfish Company proposed a 28-acre aquaculture project — the largest in Pierce County. Taylor Shellfish faces an uphill battle for the county’s Conditional Use Permit that has been challenged by Friends of Burley Lagoon and a coalition of environmental […]
Ryan Mello Endorsed for Pierce County Executive In 2024 there is and opportunity for a sea change in Pierce County government. Not only can we retain the County Council majority, but we can elect a County Executive who understands the environment. In addition, several Pierce County Council seats are in play. To retain our present […]
The Western Gray Squirrel is back in the news. The Garry Oak forest is habitat for these squirrels and 670 trees are marked for destruction. 280 tiny homes are planned for development next to this wetland complex that has been the principal habitat for forest wildlife. Tiny Village Project nears Public Hearing On March 6, […]
Can Pierce County prevent smoky late summer skies? The Smokehouse Creek fire, the largest on record in Texas, is still largely uncontrolled across the state’s Panhandle. So far, the fire has scorched more than a million acres, making it one of the most destructive in U.S. history. More hot, dry summers are on their way […]
