Do you want secret meetings in Gig Harbor

January 22, 2016 Guest Opinion in Gig Harbor Life

Do secret meetings belong in Gig Harbor?

 “Too often decisions are made before the public becomes aware of the implications.”  Council member Ken Malich.

There is a secret committee in Gig Harbor.

Mayor Guernsey and the city council have created a secret committee in Gig Harbor. This is the Harbor Element Subcommittee.

 (The mayor and council members Kadzik, Payne, Lovrovich, Perrow, Ekberg and Arbenz refused to open these meetings to the public. Council member Malich was the lone council member who has spoken in favor of opening these meetings to the public.)

The intent of this SECRET subcommittee is to discuss rezoning, vertical zoning, building size and higher density in downtown Gig Harbor. 

This secret committee will interview some citizens.

Those citizen interviews are not recorded.

The public is barred from attending these meetings. 

These meetings are secret.

Consequently, there is no accountability as to what the questions and citizens answers really are.   For months the planning commission has been chugging along formulating regulations.  The majority of the council wants high density housing in downtown.  Their search is on for people who will support high density housing and the council‘s questionable motives.

The purpose of these regulations is to double the housing density and require parking for only 1 vehicle per small residential unit in Gig Harbor.

  High density housing has been renamed Small Residential Units, aka SRU.   The goal of small residential units is to double the housing density and reduce the parking capability downtown.

• ·         This could mean that a ½ acre piece of land would have 8 – 12 homes.

• ·         Only 1 parking garage per home could be required.

• ·         Distance between homes could be 10 feet.

• ·         These homes with 1 car garages could have only 900 square feet on ground level.

• ·         2 stories would probably be required.

• ·         Most households have multiple cars. Where would the other car park?

Higher density housing will result in even greater traffic gridlock throughout downtown.

            Could this happen to Gig Harbor?  You bet!

      The Olympic Property Group is the development company that developed Gig Harbor North and brought us all these high density homes and traffic.  We have a Downtown Waterfront Association. Beginning the end of January, The Olympic Property Group will sit on the Board of Directors of this Waterfront Association.

              

The overwhelming majority of Gig Harbor voters re-elected Ken Malich to the Gig Harbor City Council.     In Ken’s landslide re-election, voters sent a message to the mayor and rest of the council to limit housing starts, cut down on the housing density, and solve the traffic gridlock before allowing more out of control chaotic development.

What can you do to help?

#1.  Tell the mayor and city council ABSOLUTELY NO secret meetings in Gig Harbor.  Send your email to Gig Harbor City Clerk Molly Towslee.   TowsleeM@cityofgigharbor.net

ABSOLUTELY EVERYBODY is needed to speak.

#2.  If you call Gig Harbor home and live inside or outside the city limits, now is the time for you to act. The city is waiting for your phone call.  Contact Lindsey Sehmel sehmell@cityofgigharbor.net, (253) 853-7615.  Tell Lindsey you would like to be interviewed by this secret committee and personally speak to proposed changes scheduled for Gig Harbor.  It is a good idea to make a copy for yourself of your contact with the city.

Make no mistake about this, the majority of the council wants to hear that high density housing is missing and is wanted.  So you need to speak clearly.

You will be asked to discuss:

 

      What is currently missing in The Harbor? 

    ( Appropriate notification to all of our  citizens when changes are being discussed for downtown.  How about there is no parking and we are missing our view is going away.  In some cities a person cannot rezone or put in a use unless 50% of their neighbors are on board.  That is a rule that is missing from The Harbor. What do you think?)

·         What does The Harbor currently have too much of? 

     ( traffic gridlock, it needs to be fixed before more commercial or high density residential residences)

·         Are there uses in The Harbor that do not belong or are out of character?

     (How about anthing that blocks the view of the harbor, high density housing with no parking, how about any buildings over 2 stories high in the commercial zone.  No 2 stories anywhere else.  Any private developer agreements without citizen control do not belong in the harbor.  Anything that takes away the view, restaurants in the commercial zone, allowing businesses or residences that  have not enough off street parking. 

      How about anything that destroys our historic Millville.

     Ken Malich was re-elected by a landslide of Gig Harbor voters.  He ran to preserve our fishing village atmosphere and to keep Gig Harbor unique.  He ran to limit housing starts and high density and solve the traffic issues before more zoning is allowed.  

     What do you think?)

    Citizensforgigharbor@gmail.com

     Nov 2017 1 mayor, 4 council seats up for re-election.   

"I am only one, but still I am one.  I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.  Because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do something that I can do." Helen Keller

Citizens for the Preservation of Gig Harbor.  Committed to leaving Gig Harbor better than we found it!