Council Legislation

Proposed Ordinance No. 2020-99s2

Title: An Ordinance of the Pierce County Council Adopting Amendments to Title 19A of the Pierce County Code, "Pierce County Comprehensive Plan"; Amending Chapter 14, Appendix J: South Hill Community Plan; Adopting Findings of Fact; and Setting an Effective Date. (South Hill Community Plan - Amendments)

Effective: February 1, 2021

Status: Passed

Sponsors: Councilmembers Dave Morell, Douglas G. Richardson

Final votes

October 29, 2020
Aye Excused Aye Nay Aye Aye Aye


Documents
Additional legislative records are available below Collapse All  Expand All
 

Public Comments

Name Date Comment
James L Halmo 10/18/20 7:30 PM October 18, 2020 Mr. Chairman and Members of the Community Development Committee Ref: Ordinance 2020-99s (South Hill Community Plan) Committee Amendment No. 2 I support the addition of Items 8 and 10, which refer to the role of the airport advisory committee. The committee has a role to play in ensuring safety of the airport operations. Amended Community Plan. The County’s Comprehensive Plan on airport functions states the following: “GOAL LU-100 Ensure compatibility between airports and surrounding developments. LU-100.4 Coordinate with airports, the Aviation Division of the Washington State Department of Transportation, and other affected parties. LU-100.5 Utilize airport overlays to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare and to address incompatible uses with airport operations. In view of the crash of a small aircraft crash on the afternoon of October 15th, it is important now to review the land use policies and regulations regarding properties around the Pierce County Airport. Reviewing Maps J-3 Zoning Map and J-20 Thun Field Airport Area of Influence, the referenced aircraft appears to have flown to the northwest from safety zone 1 to zone 3 at the end of the airfield and crashed in Sunrise Village – a Town Center. The proposed new Urban Corridor (UCor) to the west of the airport should be restricted solely to the west side of State Highway 161 (Meridian). The lands east of the State Highway should be rezoned appropriately to Employment Center (EC). This will avoid permitting of high rise buildings near the airport. Sincerely, James L. Halmo 9806 247th Street Ct. East Graham, WA 98338 (253) 875-1890 jimh1890@hotmail.com
James L Halmo 10/25/20 5:53 PM October 25, 2020 Mr. Chairman and Members of the Pierce County Council Ref: Proposal No. 2020-99s, South Hill Community Plan – Amendments I discussed the whole issue of ensuring the viability and safety of the Thun Field Airport Area of Influence and its relationship to the newly Proposed Urban Corridor along State Highway 161 (Meridian). I will reiterate what I have written previously. The County’s Comprehensive Plan on airport functions states the following: “GOAL LU-100 Ensure compatibility between airports and surrounding developments. LU-100.4 Coordinate with airports, the Aviation Division of the Washington State Department of Transportation, and other affected parties. LU-100.5 Utilize airport overlays to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare and to address incompatible uses with airport operations. In view of two recent crashes of small aircraft, it is important now to review the land use policies and regulations regarding properties around the Pierce County Airport. Looking at Maps J-3 South Hill Zoning Map (page 195) and J-20 Thun Field Airport Area of Influence (p. 237), the first aircraft appears to have flown to the northwest from safety zone 1 to zone 3 at the end of the airfield and crashed in Sunrise Village – a Town Center shortly after taking off on October 15th. The second aircraft landed in a vacant parking lot near 187th Street, just south of the airport in the later afternoon of October 18th. Fortunately no one was injured. I strongly recommend that the proposed new Urban Corridor (UCor) to the west of the airport should be restricted solely to the west side of State Highway 161 (Meridian). The lands east of the State Highway should be rezoned appropriately to Employment Center (EC). This will avoid permitting of high rise buildings near the airport. It will also ensure the high potential for more employment opportunities supporting within the fast growing population in South Hill. Sincerely, James L. Halmo 9806 247th Street Ct. East Graham, WA 98338 (253) 875-1890 jimh1890@hotmail.com