Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor | Coming soon to your residential neighborhood?
In the Aug. 21 Gig A Byte, there was a notice for a PUBLIC HEARING for the planning commission this Thursday for phase 2 code development for our Comprehensive Plan. If you are new to this language and process, the comp plan is what the city has planned for our community, and the code is what makes it into law.
I discovered that the R-1 zone, which is traditionally single-family residences, was being totally revamped to allow 35 ft tall buildings 5 ft from other homes in residential neighborhoods.
In a recent “flash vote” the city wanted to know if you wanted housing to match income levels in the community. Several options to accomplish this were given to respond to. I read all of the results, and particularly telling were the 185 “additional comments” people submitted. Most people said the traffic was already a mess, things were too crowded and to stop clear cutting.
Now the planning commission is making decisions on development code that could allow 35 foot tall buildings in R-1 and R-2 zones with set-backs of 5 feet, in the name of affordable housing. In R-2 zones 12 plexes are allowed. My concern is that we will get what we allow.
I realize nobody wants to go to a planning commission public hearing on a sunny summer evening, however, this is when things are being considered and decided. The meeting is at 5:30 Thursday the 27th at the civic center. You can write a letter here: [email protected] and you can be added to an email list to receive updates here: [email protected]
My question is, will you be one of the people who gasps and grumbles when another change happens and say you didn’t know how this could possibly be allowed; or will you be proactive and let the city know that we want to keep our residential neighbors uncrowded, so the kids can play outside and we walk the dog in peace. If 35 foot tall 12 plexes are allowed in our neighborhoods, that way of life could disappear.
Melinda Stuart
Gig Harbor