- Gold area is approx. proposed permanent closure
Proposal No. R2013-20, A Resolution of the Pierce County Council Initiating Vacation and Road Closure Proceedings for a Portion of 180th Street East in the Frederickson Area; and Requesting that the County Engineer Prepare an Engineer’s Report and Recommendation to the Council Regarding Said Vacation and Closure.
Sponsored by: Councilmember Jim McCune
Department Contact Person: Kevin Klegg, Economic Development; (253) 798-6639
Council Contact Person: Hugh Taylor, (253) 798-3665
Date of final Council hearing: April 9, 2013
The Pierce County Council Economic Development and Infrastructure committee voted unanimously to move Resolution 2013-20 forward to the full Council on Tuesday, March 26.
Hugh Taylor on the council staff noted the procedure for this road closure. This will affect 180th Street East in the Frederickson are from 47th Avenue to 50th Avenue. James Hardie has proposed this road be closed and already had Heath & Associates conduct an impact study which has been transmitted to the County Traffic Engineer. Hardie wants to expand this business on top of the street without having to cross traffic.
A road vacation/closure is not required to pass through the local Land Use Advisory Committee (LUAC) or the Planning Commission. It passes from the county engineer to the County Council for action. It is a very quick and less democratic process.
The County Council Economic and Infrastructure Development Committee had a hearing at 9:30 a.m. March 26 on this issue. Here is the line to Pierce County TV and the first meeting about the permanent road closure. Watch the proceeding to know more. The hearing is from minute 1:45 to 20:14 on the tape.
Speakers at the Council meeting included 2 people representing James Hardie. Dave Randall, whose property James Hardie is looking to purchase was stated to be present but declined to speak.
Susan Seuss of the Economic Development Board for Tacoma Pierce County spoke about the plant and the potential for increased productivity, “…Jobs for about 100 more people.” She noted the proposal petition document which was presented to the council included support from, “…Neighbors, Toray Composites, Parr Lumber, Medallion Foods and Carlson Paving Products.”Denise Dyer, the Economic Development Director for Pierce County also testified in support of the road closure.
Later in the tape Councilmember Ladenburg asks about any written and telephone comments received by the members. They also ask about whether any letters or calls received by a councilmember are required to be shared to the whole council. The council attorney indicates that is at the council member’s discretion. If the comments are sent general delivery and not to a specific council person, everyone will receive a copy.
Later in the hearing, the tape shows Councilman Talbert asking about the process. “Isn’t there any notification that goes out to the property owners in the area?”
The answer: Staff member Hugh Taylor and traffic engineer Brian Stacy talk about county policy on road vacations that mirrors state RCW’s. This process does not even require neighbors within 300 feet to receive notice. Actually, the only notice is the council agenda and once the council approves the closure, the site gets posted with a county official sign. Yes, that’s correct, no one gets to know until it is a done deal.
Some of Councilman Jim McCune’s comments:
“I’m excited bout the jobs it’s gonna bring here. This product is fabulous for the Northwest, I use it myself and it’s a great product.”
“I’m sure there are maybe some people on this road that will be, maybe unhappy, maybe not.”
“It’s an old road, it’s a side road, it isn’t used that much… there’s other alternatives. …It’s actually faster to go backwards, to go up to the main highway… to get where you wanna go down Canyon.”
“I don’t think the road closure is gonna be that big of a deal.”
“There is going to be another road, on 50th, cut through to 176th, there’ll be another road added …if Im not mistaken.”
“And we should be posting probably, we should see what some of the citizens in the area think about that road closure.”
“I think overall it’s gonna be a great project.”
“I appreciate them coming and building in Washington.”Here is the link to the county video on the committee hearing. The part of 180th is at the beginning, minutes 1:45 to 20:14.
[Editor Note: Written public comments on this proposal should be directed to the entire council as comments to individual members are not required to be shared with other members.]
- This is a link to the actual document submitted to the council requesting the road vacation.SKMBT_C45413040309310
- Link to new Pierce County web page regarding this road closure. www.piercecountywa.org/180thclosure.
Pierce Prairie Post 
The PPP received this in email from Hugh Taylor, County Council Staff:
If the resolution is approved, the County Engineer will be directed to conduct a study of the closure and vacation of 180th Street East including impacts to traffic (travel time and emergency response) and utilities. The County Engineer will also require an appraisal of the property to determine its value. The County Engineer will then be required to provide a report and recommendation to the Council. Upon receipt of the County Engineer’s report, the Council would then need to consider an ordinance to vacate and close the roadway. Assuming that the Council moves forward with an ordinance, notice of the proposed ordinance would be provided in the official County newspaper and public notice signs would be posted at each end of the right-of-way being considered for closure and vacation. Additionally, property owners along 180th Street East would be sent written notice of the proposed ordinance including proposed hearing dates and the process for commenting. The earliest that the Council could consider an ordinance to close and vacate the roadway would be late June. At least two public hearings would occur for the ordinance.
At least they are doing something. I don’t think they would have otherwise. Notice all this (and the community meeting by James Hardie) all came after you (Marianne) and I made a stink using media. Good “activist journalism.”
Public awareness and education are hallmarks of a good democracy. When all parties are at the table, the best decisions can be made.