Washington State and GH Citizens agree...

WA State Says GH is not planning for the future of our town.

           The Gig Harbor Mayor had a letter in the newspaper recently.  She made references to 1990's and sewers that some of our citizens enjoy. 
          We have a mayor and council who are stuck in the past and supporting developers all the way. 
          The State of Washington and Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) agree with Gig Harbor citizens and have determined Gig Harbor is not preparing for the future. 

IN 2015 Washington State told the city of Gig Harbor to limit growth and future zoning should promote a small historic town.  Washington State told Gig Harbor to plan for handing traffic before allowing more growth.  Gig Harbor has not demonstrated to Washington State that is prepared to handle future growth or prepared for a functioning city in the future.

             It is the job of Washington State, though the Puget Sound Regional Council to plan how our city grows into the future.  Planning for the future is accomplished by goals written into the Gig Harbor comprehensive plan.

 A comprehensive plan is a broad statement of goals and policies that direct the coordinated physical development of a city into the future. A comprehensive plan anticipates change and provides specific guidance for future legislative and administrative actions.

The state has said that Gig Harbor has failed to prove it is planning for the future.  It has failed to prove it is planning for limited growth.  Gig Harbor has failed to prove it is planning to handle the traffic and infrastructure before allowing for more growth.

On March 3, 2016 Washington State, through the Puget Sound Regional Council said NO to fully approving our Gig Harbor Comprehensive Plan.  The PSRC has said Gig Harbor does not have regulations in place to demonstrate it is planning for the future of our city.  Derek Young appeared on this video with the PSRC and agreed it was poor planning that got GH into this mess.

 Not having a fully approved comprehensive plan is a big deal.  When a city has a reputation for not cooperating with the state, that reputation can negatively affect a city’s ability to receive grant funding.  The Cushman Trail, Skansie Park, Ancich Park, to name a few projects, were created with grant money.

 Change will always happen, but you have to thoughtfully plan for the change. Washington State said Gig Harbor has not planned for this change and should have limited growth until the infrastructure was in place.  Washington State determined Gig Harbor has not demonstrated through rules and regulations that it is planning for a functioning city in the future.

There is a very big disconnect between our mayor and city council and the concerns of Washington State for the future of our city. 

  

Mayor and Council email addresses:

 guernseyj@cityofgigharbor.net

 paynet@cityofgigharbor.net

kadzikp@cityofgigharbor.net

 perrowm@cityofgigharbor.net

 malichk@cityofgigharbor.net

 EkbergS@cityofgigharbor.net

 lovrovichr@cityofgigharbor.net

 arbenzc@cityofgigharbor.net

 Citizens for the Preservation of Gig Harbor  LLC C4GH: Citizens committed to making Gig Harbor better than we found it! JOIN US!! Sign up for email: citizensforgigharbor@gmail.com http://citizens4gigharbor.blogspot.com/ Give us a "like" on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Citizens4GigHarbor Mayor and 4 council seats up for re-election in 2017!