By Marianne Lincoln

3-23-2023

On Tuesday, March 21, the Council chamber were packed. There was an overflow room with people and another 90 on Zoom. Citizens and residents argued against the three measures. Developers and social service agencies argued for the measures. In the end, the Pierce County Council passed three resolutions that pertained to homelessness, sales tax, and zoning. These three resolutions were thinly veiled permissions to begin the permit process for building a micro home village in Spanaway.

On the zoning change for Residential Reserve, Robyn Denson and Amy Cruver voted no. On the Sales Tac, Amy Cruver voted no, On the release of funding, Amy Cruver voted no.

There are three items passed:

2022-81s	An Ordinance of the Pierce County Council Levying an Additional Sales and Use Tax of One-Tenth of One Percent for Housing and Related Services as Authorized by RCW 82.14.530; and Amending Pierce County Code Chapter 4.28, “Sales and Use Tax,” and Section 4.48.020, “Special Revenue Funds.”
R2022-163	A Resolution of the Pierce County Council Authorizing Release of Funding for a Microhome Village Project Pursuant to Provisos to the 2022-2023 Pierce County Biennial Budget.
2023-5s	An Ordinance of the Pierce County Council Allowing for Shared Housing Villages in the Residential Resource Zone of the Frederickson Community Plan Area, Mid-County Community Plan Area, Parkland-Spanaway-Midland Communities Plan Area, and South Hill Community Plan Area of Unincorporated Pierce County by Amending Title 18A of the Pierce County Code, “Development Regulations – Zoning”; Adopting Findings of Fact; and Setting an Effective Date.

The meeting ran long. There were technical issues with hearing folks on Zoom. I was on Zoom and could hear them, but the Council could not. So precious time ticked away while technical problems were resolved.

People testifying included many neighbors bordering the Spanaway project location and representing the lake and watershed. Heather Moss, Pierce County Community Services Director, Duke Paulson from the Tacoma Rescue Mission, Barbara Gelman, former Councilperson from Parkland, and several builders.

After a break for dinner around 6:30 p.m., the meeting went on until 10:18 p.m. before adjourning. Two records were set, attendance and length of the meeting.

The most pressing concern, the micro home village, may now proceed through the permitting process. As Councilmember Hitchen pointed out, there are many more hoops for the proponents to jump through as that progresses, any one of which could change the project. There will be some state and federal regulations to accommodate. There will also likely be requests for variances, those the community must watch out for.

The PPP will attempt to follow the process and any public comment opportunities as they come up.