Open Houses on Pierce County Comp Plan Update

Pierce County’s unincorporated population is expected to grow by 75,000 residents by the year 2030.

The community is invited to learn how that growth will be accommodated through a series of open houses planned for May and June. The open houses, which are part of the review and update of Pierce County’s Comprehensive Plan and development regulations, will feature stations that address topics like land use, transportation and parks.

This is the community’s chance to learn where we are in the Comprehensive Plan update, discuss the topics with staff and provide comments, said Debby Hyde, special projects coordinator. There is no formal presentation—drop in anytime during the event.

The following open houses are open to the public, and will run from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.:

•    May 20, East County Maintenance Facility, 11711 Prairie Ridge Drive E., Bonney Lake
•    May 22, Central Maintenance Facility, 4812 196th St. E., Spanaway
•    May 29, Key Peninsula Civic Center, 17010 S. Vaughn Road KPN, Vaughn
•    June 3, Roy Community Center, 122 3rd St. E., Roy
•    June 5, McMillin Grange, 12615 State Route 162, Puyallup
•    June 10, Pierce County Library Administrative Building, 3005 112th St., Parkland

Realize 2030: Honor the Past—Look Ahead

Pierce County’s Comprehensive Plan Update process, or “Realize 2030,” acknowledges the past 20 years of growth under the current Comprehensive Plan and eleven community plans and looks ahead to the next period of growth. The review and update of Pierce County’s Comprehensive Plan and development regulations began last year and will be completed by June 2015.

Washington State’s Growth Management Act (GMA) requires counties to review existing plans and regulations and update them, if necessary, every 8 years.

Changes that will be addressed include new legislative requirements and recent changes in land use law. The majority of policies and directions of the county’s plans will be maintained and carried forward in the update.

Community plans form foundation for updates

The eleven community plans were adopted in Pierce County between 1999 and 2009. Each plan included public engagement that helped refine the direction of community development in Pierce County. Many of the policies have since evolved into county-wide regulations and programs and no longer need to be specified in the individual community plans.

“The community plans will be revised to remove the regulations that apply to all of Pierce County and retain only the policies and land use regulations that are unique to each community,” said Sean Gaffney, Pierce County Planning and Land Services long range planning manager.

Visit here to sign up for weekly email updates about the Comprehensive Plan update. The website also features information about upcoming community open houses and background material related to the update.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Sean Gaffney, long range planning manager
Pierce County Planning and Land Services
253-798-2724

Dan Cardwell, planner
Pierce County Planning and Land Services
253-798-7039

Last Chance to Participate in Survey

Friday (Sept. 3) is the last chance for small businesses to participate in the Small Business Success Index survey.

Businesses have until midnight on Friday, Sept. 3 to participate in an online survey to measure their individual success against a standard of nationwide businesses. Respondents will be anonymous.

Businesses will get their own individual rating for a Small Business Success Index and through their participation will determine the Small Business Success Index for the community.

The survey also focuses on the local business climate to determine how supportive the area is for business success.

Chambers of commerce and business associations around Pierce County are collaborating with the survey, supported by Network Solutions and Rockbridge Associates. The Chamber will use the survey’s results to improve small business support services.

This will be an online survey only. Businesses may participate by following this link.

Business Working Together

Business leadership organizations around Pierce County are working together.

The Puyallup/Sumner Chamber, the Fife Milton Edgewood Chamber, Gig Harbor Peninsula Chamber and the Lakewood Chamber have joined efforts with the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber and its South County and University Place-Fircrest divisions.  The Master Builders Assn. of Pierce County, the Tacoma-Pierce County Assn. of Realtors and the Tacoma Downtown Merchants Group are also part of the coalition.  The Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County and the City of Tacoma are involved too.

All these groups are working together encouraging their businesses to help determine the local environment for business and to assess their own business success index. The effort will lead to goals improving our business community. If you wish to be a part of this survey both for the good of the community and to assess your own business, take the survey!

Chamber inputs into County Library Facilities Plan

The Pierce County Library System, working with individuals and community leaders, including Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber staff and volunteer representation, have come up with a facilities master plan that proposes to meet community needs during the next 20 plus years.

Besides the expansion of all current libraries and the relocation of some libraries, the plan calls for an addition of one new library in the Frederickson area. Another hopeful sign of the anticipated growth of Frederickson, an integral area that is part of the Chamber’s Frederickson, Parkland, Spanaway division.

Check out the Pierce County Library 2030: Facilities Master Plan executive summary and summary report here.