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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
About Ryan Mello Ryan was born in Kailua, Hawaii, and moved to Tacoma in 1997 to attend the University of Puget Sound. There, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics and government. After college, Ryan went on to serve in several career roles that protect our quality of life, working farmlands and rural […]
