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OUR POSITION: Right Idea WRONG LOCATION

URGENT Council Meeting!

MARCH 21st, 2023, at 3:00pm 

Please ATTEND!!

930 Tacoma Ave. S. Room 1045, Tacoma | County-City Building,

They will be voting on 3 extremely important items!

To attend & comment remotely call 253-215-8782 . Use Web ID 976-6178-7423, Or use the Zoom link for this meeting: https://piercecountywa.zoom.us/j/9766178

ZOOM Link

This Affects EVERYONE in Pierce County

URGENT Action Needed!

FINAL VOTES ON THESE 3 VITAL PROPOSALS ON MARCH 21st at the COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING!!

This Council Meeting is of CRITICAL Importance!!  It is vital that our Council Members hear from those they are elected to represent!   Please be respectful and articulate your concerns.  You will have 3 minutes to speak in person or on ZOOM.   Also, please comment on the Proposals below so you are on the record. 

1. ALLOWING "SHARED HOUSING" in our Residential Resource Zones/Critical Areas (Proposal 2023-5)

A proposal to change current zoning-density laws to allow shared-housing villages in our RR Zone which was created to protect environmentally sensitive zones and critical watershed areas. Protect our wetands and watershed! 

Comment Here

2. RELEASING THE FUNDS for the Homeless Village (Proposal R2022-163)

Proposal to release 22 million dollars to fund a Homeless Village in a critical wetland area.   It will be EXTREMELY difficult to fight this project if the Council  releases these funds. Help us fight this disastrous project!  Comment below and email Council Members. 

Comment Here

3. RAISING TAXES to pay for housing (Ordinance 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."

Comment Here

4. Email the Pierce County Council

Make your voice heard with our County Council Members! Tell them...


  • Vote NO on Proposal R2023-5. Protect our Residential Resource Zones!!
  • Vote NO on Proposal R2022-163 .  We do NOT want a Micro-City for the Homeless in one of our most pristine & critical watersheds!!
  • Vote NO on Ordinance 2022-81s.  Stop raising our taxes!


Click button below for Council email addresses.

Council Emails

STOP the Political Games!

Wrong for ALL Residential Resource Zones! Don't open Pandora's Box. Protect our critical RR Zones

The Council votes March 21st whether to allow "shared housing" in the Parkland-Spanaway-Midland Community's RRZones.  "Shared housing" does NOT belong in our critical RR Zones!  If they pass this, they'll soon open this to ALL RR Zones.  Say NO now!!

Tell Council Members to Vote NO on Proposal 2023-5!

Dear County Council,

Excellent summary of many of the issues!!

Thank you for providing the opportunity to comment on the proposed micro city. Thank you also for slowing the reckless pace of the Executive’s Office to ram this through without the Council’s thorough review, without community input (community engagement was schedule after their requested release of funding), and with their disregard of the zoning laws and environmental damage this village will cause.


As Councilmember Hitchin quotes on her letterhead …. The important thing is not to stop questioning." Albert Einstein


Is Pierce County missing the forest for the trees? The focus on addressing chronic homelessness has been on an experimental concept of a “micro city.” What other solutions are being considered to provide housing and dignity to the chronically homeless that could house MORE people FASTER?


Is this a viable solution for Pierce County? Texas has a lot of land. Pierce County does not. Texas has a lot of Christian volunteers committed to this ministry. Pierce County does not. If the Executive’s office can identify only one parcel in all of Pierce County where they could possibly build this, then the idea to replicate this is off the table. Senior Council O’Ban said that this is NOT an EVIDENCED-BASED concept. (July 19, 2022). It might work in Texas, but Pierce County operates under completely different political, religious, legal, and legislative systems.


Why is the Spanaway site still being considered when this use is not allowed? This project was planned in a location where this use is not legal and could be made so only by forcing changes to ordinances to subvert zoning regulations to fit their need.


The original proposal site matrix was biased. You had concerns. When you asked for more options due to doubts with the Spanaway site, the Executive’s office presented you with sites that they knew wouldn’t work. This should NOT invalidate your concerns related to the inappropriateness of the proposed Spanaway site for this use.


Residential Resource Zones (RRZ) are not appropriate for micro cities. Your own Community Development Committee said they must not be permitted in RR Zones of Frederickson Mid-County, and South Hill….What makes it allowable in the Parkland-Spanaway-Midland area? Shared housing villages either fit in Residential Resource Zones or they do not. They do not fit in any Residential resource Zone.  


Nothing about this use conditionally fits this area. It is zoned for 1 to 3 homes per acre. If it is necessary to use funny math to manipulate the number of housing units per acre to squeeze the square peg into a round hole, it is wrong and overreaching. This manipulation would NOT be allowed for a citizen contractor, and it should NOT be allowed by the County.


The Executive’s office’ opinion on the appropriateness or inappropriateness of other sites does not change the fact that this site IS NOT APROPRIATE FOR THIS USE.


Leaders lead-- Just say no!


Is a DESIGNER city for 250 chronically homeless over six years a good investment considering the Pierce County has currently 4,300 homeless people? Could the $22 million seed money be allocated more appropriately to projects that house many more homeless faster instead of only 6% in 6 years?


How confident are you that TRM will be able to raise approximately $52 million to advance from phase 1A? I read the Executive’s response to your funding concerns, and it was a lot of hopefulness without committed funds, still relying on the Field of Dreams philosophy of “build it and they will come.”


Has the time to do this passed for such a grand scale experiment?


This project was planned in good economic times. Since then, Pierce County citizens are struggling to live with escalating inflation. Homelessness grows daily. Our Nation’s debt is skyrocketing. 65% of TRM’s operating budget comes from private funding and 35% comes from government funding (Source: TNT). It is highly probable that generous donations will be severely reduced. 


Since this project was planned:

  • The stock market continues to deep dive.
  • Our Country is at risk for a Systemic Failure of Community Banks –It could be a contagion that hursts many industries like to 2008 crisis.
  • The President is planning for a tremendous amount of new taxes to pay for weapons and humanitarian assistance in the Ukraine war, our Nation’s weaponry stockpile replenishment and bank bailouts.
  • WA State wants more and more taxes on business and individual capital gains.
  • Pierce County wants more tax money to pay for housing the homeless.
  • Temporary SNAP benefits and medical Covid assistance programs are ending.
  • Construction costs have skyrocketed since the initial proposal of almost $74 million. Material shortages are critical. Building delays are prevalent. Civil engineering contractors have trouble getting equipment to sites because parts aren’t available to fix what has broken.
  • The charitable base higher earners – especially tech – are experiencing unprecedented layoffs. 
  • Some of our country’s most intelligent financial minds are advising undertaking austerity measures in 2023 and 2024. They expect this downturn in the economy to potentially double-dip into a deeper recessionary phase. 

I applaud you for seeking solutions to end homelessness. I ask again, are you missing the forest for the trees? Launching into a six-year, $73 million project that will provide only 250 living units for the chronically homeless seems like a designer solution for a few – amidst an ever-growing problem that leaves 4,300 people looking for shelter every night.  There must be other possibly more generic options to house the chronically homeless while still providing them with dignity.


What would your answer be if your financial advisor came to you and said he wanted your seed money for a great investment. Give him $22 million to get it started. Then, he will ask other investors to give him $50+ million to continue this over the next six years with no guarantees that this project will reach completion. It is not an evidence-based concept. It’s planned for a location that is not legal and could contaminate the region’s critical watershed; but we’re working with lawyers to change laws so that we can push it through and avoid things like Environmental Impact Statements. On-going, 75% of the operating costs will pay for staff salaries and the actual place will be run by volunteers. People living there can earn money –a total pot of $375,000 per year has been set aside for 250 workers. Among the leftovers in the operating budget is $25,000 a year for transportation for the people who will be isolated one mile from the nearest road, and a pittance amount to provide security for those who live within and around the micro city. Would you write your personal check for this?


Community First! Homeless Village Proposal

  • 285 houses, 19 support buildings, & farm
  • For chronically homeless "suffering from serious mental illness, & substance use disorders."
  • "Low-barrier community" (Not clean & sober)
  • Against the Residential Resource (RR) Zone Code.
  • County plans to "Amend" the Code to allow these type of Villages in our sensitive RR Zones. 
  • Located on 87 acres of the vital, sensitive, and Federally protected Chambers/Clover Creek Watershed & Wetland

Find Proposal here

"Village" Plan

Pierce County Village Proposal and Website

County Project Update Webpage:

https://www.piercecountywa.gov/7845/Pierce-County-Village#location


The Homeless Village Proposal

https://issuu.com/pierceco/docs/thevillage_proposal_digital_full

WRONG LOCATION FOR...

The Wetlands & Watershed

The Wetlands & Watershed

The Wetlands & Watershed

  • Contamination of the watershed that serves Spanaway Lake, Steilacoom Lake,  Chambers Bay and JBLM 


  • Increased blue-green algae & other contaminates


  • Large concentration of pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs being used in this sensitive area, polluting the groundwater


  • 300+ permanent structures crammed on 21 of the 87 acres (15 buildings PER ACRE)


  • Contaminated groundwater inevitable


  • Large forest cleared in the watershed 


  • Long road through the wetlands


  • Habitat destruction for protected & endangered animals, trees, fish and birds.


  • Removal of many Oregon White Oak trees which are habitat to the protected Western Gray Squirrels


  • An Environmental Impact Statement SHOULD be required! 



This location is an environmentally irresponsible choice to construct a high density micro-city and multi-acre farm.

The Chronically Homeless

The Wetlands & Watershed

The Wetlands & Watershed

  • Traumatizing location for those suffering from mental illness, drug addiction, and PTSD


  • Frequent, LOUD, day & night munitions explosions and gunfire from nearby JBLM artillery range


  • LOUD, low-flying military aircraft DIRECTLY over the village on final approach to McChord Airfield.


  • Dangerous & active black bear habit including cougars and coyotes. 


  • Massive wetland full of mosquitoes in the summer months making it almost impossible to be outdoors in the afternoon/evenings


  • Isolated from resources, jobs, greater community, health care, etc.


  • Over a mile walk from farthest homes to 176th St.


  • No sidewalks on 176th to Pacific


  • 176th is a dangerous high-traffic multilane road for pedestrians


  • No public transportation in walking distance


  • NOT following Austin's Community First! model in significant ways and therefore threatening the possibility of success


This location does not empower this vulnerable population but further debilitates them.

 

Pierce County

The Wetlands & Watershed

Pierce County

  • Costly site development and  maintenance because of the unique challenges of building in a large wetland


  • Unnecessary 60+ acres to manage


  • Long distance from utility hook-ups


  • Village land-locked with only one long access road. Dangerous during emergencies. Hazardous for law enforcement and firefighters. 


  • Security issues for JBLM


  • Light disturbances for low-flying military aircraft landing & departing the nearby McChord Airstrip


  • Time-consuming   re-zoning of an area that should be protected instead of re-zoned


  • Possible violations with Fish and Wildlife, EPA, and other state & federal environmental entities


  • Violating Federal law


  • Costly delays from possible law suits


  • Creating costly problems in the future by damaging this vital watershed


  • Further damaging the lakes and waters that PC is constantly battling to clean up


Other locations offer less cost, faster completion, lower ongoing maintenance, and less risk to the homeless, without damaging our watershed.

TAKE ACTION!

EMAIL YOUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE & COUNCIL

PIERCE COUNTY EXECUTIVE

bruce.dammeier@piercecountywa.gov

steve.oban@piercecountywa.gov

PIERCE COUNTY COUNCIL

amy.cruver@piercecountywa.gov  

dave.morell@piercecountywa.gov  

ryan.mello@piercecountywa.gov  

marty.campbell@piercecountywa.gov 

jani.hitchen@piercecountywa.gov  

robyn.denson@piercecountywa.gov 

paul.herrera@piercecountywa.gov


SIGN THE PETITION

NOTE: The petition website suggests a donation, but we are not asking for that so feel free to ignore that. 

CLICK HERE!

JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST

Get timely updates and information on how you can help. 

CLICK HERE!

THE PROPOSED SITE

Notice the large wetland that is the watershed for Spanaway Lake & Chambers Bay.

Micro-City for the Chronically Homeless

Every yellow and blue rectangles is a tiny home

Current Site

Requires extensive tree removal & road through the wetlands.

Property Overview

IMPORTANT VOICES

"No amount of buffering will abate the damage this will cause due to the location in a wetland area." -  Penny Cooper Howard is a Friends of Spanaway Lake board member and Chairman of Spanaway Lake Management Advisory Board 

"This great project needs another site to be successful. I have asked citizens to seek other sites to recommend to the County Exec. The new site must not be on wetlands, must be served by the sewer system and be much closer to public transportation and the management team.  

Sewer service is a must to prevent pollution of the wetlands and Spanaway Lake.  Septic systems do not remove nitrogen, phosphorus, or drugs. Over the long-term, rain will move the  pollutants through the ground into the lake." - Al Schmauder is President, Clover Creek Watershed Council 



Area Surrounding Tacoma Rescue Mission

Private and Pierce County  lands outside their current homeless mission in Tacoma off South Tacoma Way have turned into a homeless encampments. 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

KOMO News 1/5/23

Spanaway Lake Concerns

Spanaway Lake Concerns

Watch Here

Spanaway Lake Concerns

Spanaway Lake Concerns

Spanaway Lake Concerns

click here

KOMO News 11/3/22

Spanaway Lake Concerns

Proposed Site's Wetlands & Watershed

Watch Here

Proposed Site's Wetlands & Watershed

Proposed Site's Wetlands & Watershed

Proposed Site's Wetlands & Watershed

click here

Articles & Media

Proposed Site's Wetlands & Watershed

Articles & Media

click here

The Federal, State, & County Protected Wetlands

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    Related Media & Articles

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