Gig Harbor council passes ordinance increasing minimum lot size for single-family zone
The Gig Harbor City Council approved an ordinance Monday increasing the minimum lot size in single-family residential zones, and increasing it slightly in others.
The vote was 5-2, with new council member Tracie Markley joining the dissent.
The new ordinance increases the minimum lot sizes for R-1 single family zones to 7,200 square feet. The minimum size for R-2, duplexes, was decreased to 7,000 square feet and R-3 multifamily to 5,400.
Council Member Bob Himes, a supporter of the ordinance, said it will help reverse a trend in the city to “see how many more houses we can squeeze into a given area.”
Himes said the increase in single-family residential zones will open up possibilities for residents who previously could not build a patio or deck in their backyard.
Staff said the ordinance will have no effect on density.
Council Member Spencer Perrow voted against the lot-size change, calling it a half-baked idea and a cheap victory that will have unintended consequences for years to come.
“This whole circus continues of trying to do stuff so it looks like something is being done when nothing is being done,” Perrow said in a previous interview. “The staff time is being wasted, which is tax dollars being wasted.”
Markley did not speak during the debate on this ordinance, but voted against this ordinance alongside Perrow.
Markley was sitting through her first council meeting as a newly-elected member, taking the place of Spencer Hutchins. She will be one of three new members.
In 2020 Council members Ken Malich and Michael Perrow will leave the council, with Robyn Denson and Le Rodenberg beginning their role.
The contentious lot-size ordinance was introduced at an Oct. 28 council meeting with a much larger minimum, but later revised because of concerns it might be illegal under the city’s comprehensive plan.
In other news, the council:
▪ Listened to Peninsula School District interim Superintendent Dr. Art Jarvis explain an upcoming levy. A programs levy passed in 2016 will be expiring in 2020. The new Educational Programs and Operations Levy will be on the Feb. 11, 2020 budget. This levy will be 18 percent of the Peninsula School District’s budget if passed in February. This would not be a new tax, but rather a renewal of the levy, Jarvis explained.
▪ Recognized the promotion of Sergeant Joseph Hicks. “He’s done a spectacular job,” Chief Kelly Busey said.
▪ Approved an ordinance which eliminates the attendance limitations at Skansie Brothers Park during special events. This ordinance also revises the maximum attendance at Eddon Boat Park to 30 people during special events.
▪ Passed a resolution that authorizes an interfund loan from the Wastewater Capital fund to the Street Capital and Park Development funds. The funds from the loan will be used for the frontage and site improvements related to construction of the Public Works Operation Center. The total cost of this project is set to be $2,200,000.
▪ Approved and authorized the mayor to execute a Professional Services Contract Amendment with Transportations Inc. for $229,095.74. This contract is in regards to a traffic signal at the intersection of Stinson Avenue and Harborview Drive.
▪ Affirmed a property owner’s proposal to classify a vacant half-acre parcel within the city as open space, reducing taxes on the parcel from $1,767 to $1,414. The parcel is adjacent to 9409 North Harborview Drive. The owners of the property are Douglas and Jeanette Sorensen.
This story was originally published December 11, 2019 at 12:00 AM.