Vision 2050 and safe parking

Dear Friends,

I am having a difficult time deciding on what to share today. I don’t want to overwhelm you with too much information, so I’m choosing two topics—Ordinance 2022-29 Acknowledging Approval of Proposed Policies for Consistency with Vision 2050 (scheduled for a final vote May 17) and Safe Parking Lots, 2022-24, (recently vetoed).

I’ll start with the shorter story, which is about “Safe Parking Lots” that passed 4-3 in the April 19 council meeting. When I first heard of the concept, I couldn’t imagine any parking lot being safe in today’s world, but with a quick search, I discovered it wasn’t by any means a new concept. Here is a 2018 study, Hidden in Plain Sight: Finding Safe Parking for Vehicle Residents, that refers to a program in 2004. It recommends starting small and building a strong reputation before trying to expand in size or scope. I can agree with that, hence, my no vote on the ordinance. The state authorized this concept for religious venues. The ordinance went beyond that limitation.

Recently, I engaged in a conversation with a religious organization that is assisting maybe up to six families/people at the most, at any one time, to address unique situations. By that, I mean someone, or a family, moved across the country for a job, only to find out it was a scam, or perhaps a family was enroute to relocate and lodging arrangements were derailed, or maybe someone was fleeing from a dangerous situation.

These are folks who find themselves in a “season” of challenges, not in a “lifestyle” of dependent living. This approach offers support and guidance from folks whose hearts are hardwired to serve in this arena of human need. I’m pleased to share that stories of success were reported after a few weeks of assistance. Safe Parking is not an ultimate solution, but it can be a godsend for someone in need. There will be more legislation coming on that topic. In the meantime, please share your concerns, both pro and con.

Pierce County Countywide Planning Policies

The more encompassing topic is about planning. America has a long history, meaning decades, of land use planning. When groups gained rights or influence to make decisions for your property has a long history. There is a plethora of books written on the subject. I did find an American Planning Association link going back to the early 1900s. That link goes to a most interesting PowerPoint. It tracks US legislation and development trends through September 2017, ending with Google’s self-driving car. I learned that self-driving cars were actually around in 1986. The Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute developed a series of autonomous vehicles using visual identifiers and controlled the vehicles steering.

Getting back to the main subject of this message, which is to inform you that Ordinance 2022-29, proposed amendments to the Pierce County Countywide Planning Policies (CPP), is scheduled for a final vote during the May 17, 3 p.m. Council Meeting. It was heard in the Community Development Committee on April 18. An informative PowerPoint was presented. You can watch the committee meeting here. You can make comments on this piece of legislation through the website.

Why is 2022-29 important? This ordinance consists of amendments to our CPP to maintain compliance and consistency with Vision 2050, the regional planning document, or blueprint, for growth and transportation and the Growth Management Act (GMA) as mandated by the State. The final plan, when passed by the Council, must then be approved by the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC), an authoritative council created by state legislation. They will review and accept or reject the planning documents passed by Pierce, King, Snohomish and Kitsap counties. If rejected, plans go back to the county for revisions to meet their approval. Here is an article I found from November 2020 that explains the vision and process quite well.

In summary, the legislature requires counties planning under the GMA (since 1990) to design societal plans (statements of goals--visions) that reflect the policies of Vision 2050 and the Growth Management Act, not your individual goals or dreams. Vision 2050 is Vision 2040 updated to include equity and climate change, new targets to focus development around transportation hubs, and restrictions on development outside the growth boundary line with workable tools.

Requiring more mandates in planning how and where we grow will not lower our cost of living. Non-compliance can result in penalties from the state. I came across this interesting 1996 article: Growth Management: Governor penalizes defiant Chelan County.

The revisions in 2022-29 provide the framework to update the county’s planning and land use document, the Pierce County Comprehensive Plan, scheduled to be updated December 2024. Below is where you can learn more in state law.

RCW 36.70A.130: Comprehensive plans—Review procedures and schedules—Amendments.
*** CHANGE IN 2022 *** (SEE 5593-S.SL) ***
*** CHANGE IN 2022 *** (SEE 1241-S2.SL) ***

(1)(a) Each comprehensive land use plan and development regulations shall be subject to continuing review and evaluation by the county or city that adopted them. Except as otherwise provided, a county or city shall take legislative action to review and, if needed, revise its comprehensive land use plan and development regulations to ensure the plan and regulations comply with the requirements of this chapter according to the deadlines in subsections (4) and (5) of this section.

Delegating authority to a body of officials that were not elected by you is a core component of regionalism…rule by appointed councils, committees, commissions, etc., diluting or removing your influence as an individual stakeholder/citizen/voter in your government. I would like to point out a paragraph in the RCW from above: Intent—2005 c 294: "The legislature recognizes the importance of appropriate and meaningful land use measures and that such measures are critical to preserving and fostering the quality of life enjoyed by Washingtonians. The legislature recognizes also that the growth management act requires counties and cities to review and, if needed, revise their comprehensive plans and development regulations on a cyclical basis. These requirements, which often require significant compliance efforts by local governments are, in part, an acknowledgment of the continual changes that occur within the state, and the need to ensure that land use measures reflect the collective wishes of its citizenry.

I hope you find this information useful in understanding how policies are brought forth. I would love to hear your pro and con thoughts or questions about this process and the documents or policies that are created for us to live by.

Always grateful for you!