Pierce County Comprehensive Plan is Approved: KP Zoning Changed

The Pierce County Council approved a revised Comprehensive Plan at its Dec. 3 meeting, concluding a process that started nearly three years ago. It will serve as a 20-year policy document to guide growth and development in unincorporated Pierce County. Updates are required at a minimum of every 10 years.

Two aspects of the plan directly affect residents of the Key Peninsula: elimination of the rural density bonus and withdrawing Purdy from its urban growth area designation. Both recommendations were approved.

“I am really happy about the outcome,” said Pierce County Council Member Robyn Denson (D-7th). “We’ve worked hard, and we worked well together. We really listened to all our constituents, stakeholders and our professional staff.”

The council, Denson said, had an obligation to produce a plan consistent with the Washington State Growth Management Act, passed by the state legislature in 1991 to counter the threat of uncoordinated and unplanned growth to the environment, quality of life and sustainable economic development. The new plan encourages creation of dense, walkable urban communities and limits growth in rural areas.

The rural density bonus allowed building two homes on a lot zoned R10, or clustering of homes on larger parcels if half of the land was preserved as open space. Opponents argued that eliminating the bonus was unfair to property owners planning to develop their land and that the rural nature could be preserved with the density bonus intact.

A county staff report concluded there is capacity to meet the needs for projected growth in rural areas without the density bonus. In addition, the cost of infrastructure to support more growth could be prohibitive.

“We can’t afford the road improvements more traffic would bring, law enforcement demands, and social services,” Denson said.

“There were also serious concerns that were raised by rural residents about water availability, impacts of more septic systems, and road safety.” One accessory dwelling unit, up to 1,250 square feet, is allowed on each property in rural areas.

Denson had hoped to eliminate R5 zoning, which does not exist on the Key Peninsula, but is located along urban-rural interfaces. The council did not support elimination of existing R5 parcels but added restrictions that would make it difficult if not impossible to re-zone larger parcels.

The initial plan, presented to the public in August, recommended removing Purdy’s designation as an Urban Growth Area. Many residents were in favor of the change, but some, including developers, were opposed. In October, staff reconsidered and recommended that it remain as a UGA, a change that took Denson by surprise.

“The residents who spoke up in favor of removing Purdy from the UGA were particularly active and effective voices in helping us stay the course,” Denson said. “The City of Gig Harbor should also be commended for their support of removing areas from the UGA in which they have no interest in annexing.”

The Comprehensive Plan is not final until signed by the Executive. In a statement to KP News Council Chair Ryan Mello (D-4th) wrote, “Due to the number of Council amendments and volume of materials, it is uncertain if transmittal of the Comprehensive Plan will occur before the end of the year.”