Will homeless village in Spanaway move forward? Judges hear court challenge
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Three-judge panel heard appeal challenging the June 2024 hearing examiner approval.
- Spanaway Concerned Citizens argued project permits were incomplete and not vested.
- Proposed village would provide permanent supportive housing for ~300 chronically homeless.
Three judges with the Washington Court of Appeals heard from lawyers Thursday as the saga surrounding a proposed village for about 300 chronically homeless people proceeds near Spanaway Lake.
In August, Tacoma Rescue Mission’s Good Neighbor Village received its final permits from the county to proceed to construction on 86 acres at 1609 176th St. S. and 17320 Spanaway Loop Road S.
A group called Spanaway Concerned Citizens has opposed the project and raised concerns about its potential impact on neighbors, adjacent wetlands and wildlife, as previously reported by The News Tribune.
Thursday’s 30-minute oral hearing in front of the Washington Court of Appeals Division II came after Spanaway Concerned Citizens challenged the Pierce County hearing examiner’s decision to approve the project in June 2024.
Judges Rebecca Glasgow, Anne Cruser and Bernard Veljacic did not render a decision Thursday but should in the coming months.
Spanaway Concerned Citizens said the Pierce County hearing examiner made an error by approving the Tacoma Rescue Mission’s Planned Development District and Conditional Use Permit applications because the applications were incomplete and therefore never vested, per a video recording of the hearing. The judges also will consider if Tacoma Rescue Mission and Pierce County are entitled to attorney fees upon appeal.
“This appeal is about a project that is a good idea — for housing for the homeless — in a bad location. In an area that’s been not zoned for this type of use for decades, except for a six-week window,” said Spanaway Concerned Citizens’ counsel, David Bricklin. “The issue before the court is whether the applicant succeeded in vesting the project in that six-week window.”
In Washington, “vesting” refers to a legal doctrine that allows developers to have their permit applications reviewed under the laws and regulations at the time a completed application is filed.
Margaret Archer, who represented Tacoma Rescue Mission, said Thursday an error by the title company was corrected.
“[The hearing examiner] looked at the title, he looked at the title insurance,” Archer said. “He looked at the fact that there is no parcel number, no challenge. He looked at the chain of title and he, based on this evidence, interpreted an ambiguous deed. And he had substantial evidence to support his decision.”
Per court records, the Tacoma Rescue Mission has proposed to build out the development with 189 park model style recreational vehicles, 96 micro-sleeping units, maintenance buildings, an administrative building, a civic building, five bath/laundry buildings, a community farm and garden, three single-family dwellings for volunteers and staff and 285 parking spaces.
The shared housing village would provide permanent, supportive housing for those who have experienced chronic homelessness for a decade or more. Residents would pay rent to live in the village and there will be onsite social services to assist residents in rehabilitating their lives, according to the Tacoma Rescue Mission’s proposal.
