Environmental Coalition Newsletter April 2024

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 environmental majority, we need to retain Jani Hitchen in District 6 and fill Ryan Mello’s District 4 seat as he steps up to run for County Executive. To provide guidance, we interview candidates in most of the contested seats and provide you with information and recommendations about candidates regarding local environmental issues.

Many county and state laws are helpful in guiding commercial development, creating more livable communities, and funding county parks and protecting open spaces. However, without the political will to enforce the state Environmental Policy Act and the political will to save wetlands, streams, working farms and working forests, it remains difficult to change Pierce County for the better.

Read over the information about Ryan Mello and review what he has done in his short time on the council and what he intends to do after the November Election.

Working with a team of councilmembers, he has facilitated a significant sea change. They have passed an impressive array of legislation, from protecting hundreds of miles local shoreline to facing the challenge of homelessness. The County Council also took a giant step forward in funding programs for mental health, which previous council majorities ignored for 18 years.

Tiny Village Opponents Prepare for Public Hearing

Neighbors opposed to building a Tiny Village of 280 homes near Audubon Springs are busy raising money for their appeal of the Determination of Nonsignificance. One weekend they invited people to walk down Wasmud Road and visit the old growth forest and look for birds on Spanaway Marsh.

Next time you drive south on the Spanaway Loop Road, when you arrive at the sign for the Cross-Base Highway, turn right and park by the gate. Beyond is a majestic wildlife reserve containing Garry Oaks and wetlands and the Spanaway Marsh full of birds and wildlife rarely found on the edge of suburbia.

Developers plan to remove between 670 and 1300 trees. Trees are crucial habitat for endangered species who have lived here for centuries. A previous proposal to build a four-lane freeway through the area was called the Cross-Base Highway, which was abandoned. Hike down the road and see why the neighbors want to save this place, for their own peace of mind and as you will see, for your own.

The county’s hearing examiner will hear their appeal on April 23. If you want to testify or make comments go to the website of Spanaway Concerned Citizens at:

For details about this difficult issue, go to:

https://forevergreencouncil.org/pierce-county-appeal-0f-tiny-home-village/

Review of County Comprehensive Plan Amendments

By Kirk Kirkland

March was a busy month in which several environmental organizations prepared a joint letter to take advantage of the county’s Review of Comp Plan. Every 5 years, The county is allowed to change policy and regulations.

I invited three organizations who had submitted comments to share them with me, then together to submit the additional changes we want into a coordinated letter to the County Councilmembers. County Councilmembers Robyn Denson and Ryan Mello asked that the environmental groups speak in one voice to simplify the work of the staff in writing amendments and changes.

This compiled letter is a vision of how the county can change over the next 5 years, since there are more changes included in these letters than is possible in one year. However, the value here is to communicate these ideas to councilmembers so we can develop a cooperative strategy as to coping with the influx of another 100,000 people who would like to move here.

Look over the attached letter and if you find ideas that are missing, send your comments to me. In turn, I’ll provide details of upcoming hearings and how you can participate in this rare opportunity. Look at what we have done so far and what we can do in the future to make Pierce County a better place to live.

Tacoma City Council Passes Anti-Displacement Plan

In early February the Tacoma City Council approved an update of their anti-displacement plan which was part of the city’s affordable housing zoning that was passed in 2018-2022. The city’s new Home In Tacoma zoning plan opens up many arterials for more dense housing. This could cause displacement of longtime residents in some areas of the city.

The updated anti-displacement plan examined the original goals in the 2019 plan, then evaluated their success. These new actions came several months after the City Council enacted stronger renter protections, which was followed by a sweeping tenants’ rights initiative that was narrowly approved by Tacoma voters. Both Mayor Woodards and Deputy Mayor Kristina Walker have been leaders in making the latest policy changes to update strategies to keep goals achievable.

The anti-displacement approach is also viewed as a means of mitigating other issues, such as the lingering effects of Tacoma’s past redlining policies. The plan references the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Displacement Risk Map which highlights areas where residents face higher risk of being displaced. Notably, areas with a higher percentage of residents of color, and low-income households, are more likely to be at risk of displacement.

A recent report shows that people of color and seniors were most at risk for displacement. In particular, a Hilltop census showed the Black population significantly decreased between 1970 and 2020 from 60% to 21%. During this period, the total population in this area grew by 14%. Seniors and renters are disproportionably people of color and at higher risk of displacement.

Tacoma‘s Anti-Displacement Plan

The plan has 21 points spread across a handful of focus areas, such as preserving and rehabilitating existing affordable housing.