The STACC committee sent a letter (see below) to Michael Jimenez, Senior Planner, at Pierce County in regard to the Public Notice Short Plat request for approval at 12009 132nd Ave Ct E, Application #1010106. He replied that our comments about safety, traffic impact and the proposed density being reduced have been sent to the engineering department and added to the record for the Hearing Examiner to consider.
We encourage more neighbors to send additional messages to Pierce County. Email or call Michael Jimenez, Senior Planner at:
michael.jimenez@piercecountywa.gov
(253) 798-7181
Here are views of the area asking for the short plat. As you can see if approved this will dump a large number of vehicles on to 136th. If you don’t mind waiting while 10 or 20 vehicles try to leave 136th at the stop sign you can ignore this post, but if you don’t want even more congestion you ought to write a letter to Mr. Jimenez.
Please see the STACC letter below these pictures.
This is the letter sent by the STACC committee:
Sunrise Terrace Architectural Control Committee STACC C/O RTPC4227 S Meridian Ste C-120 Puyallup WA 98373sunriseterraceacc@gmail.com
Michael Jimenez, Senior Planner
Michael.jimenez@piercecountywa.gov Phone: (253) 798-7181
Dear Mr. Michael Jimenez,
The Sunrise Terrace Architectural Control Committee, STACC, is writing to you because we need your expertise and help, please. STACC has safety concerns regarding the short plat property with parcel number 0419118016, Application #: 1010106. As we understand, the property will be developed for six single-family lots. The safety concern involves a higher likelihood of vehicular accidents with increased traffic. The proposal states that on a daily average, 60 vehicle trips will be added.
The entrance and exit of 132nd Avenue Court East for the proposed short plat is Military Road. Less than 100 feet from their intersection is a stop sign, where most residents turn right onto 122nd Street East. All the houses in Sunrise Terrace (north), Sunrise View Estates, Shawnee Ridge and additional homes exit via Military Road.
Also, Military Road and 122nd Street East are used as major thoroughfares from SR 162 Orting-Sumner Highway to South Hill and Highway 512 making them highly congested. Many drivers try to short-cut congested traffic by taking Military Road since going west up the hill on 122nd Street East is heavily congested. Also, the Tehaleh developers are building a new road down the western hill of Bonney Lake, connecting with SR162, which will force even more traffic up Military Road and 122nd Street East.
We have seen very unsafe accidents at the intersection of 122nd Street East and Shaw Road about 1500 feet from the proposed short plat. At least an additional 952 average daily vehicle trips will be made at that intersection since 100 townhomes and twenty single-family homes from the new development, Shaw Heights, are currently for sale.
In addition to concerns about safety, there is another statement in the proposal that is incorrect. Criteria 2 of Required Findings asks the applicant to state how “the public use and interest will be served by such short subdivision/large lot division.” South Hill Development LLC answers that “The proposed plat will provide a well-planned and harmonious addition to the neighboring parcels, therefore encouraging future property improvements to be built to similar standards…the proposed plat will easily integrate with the neighboring properties and blend well with future adjacent property development.” Respectfully, we firmly disagree with their answer and believe this proposal is inharmonious with the surrounding properties. For example, larger lots are characteristic of Sunrise Terrace and the neighboring communities.
Sunrise Terrace was “well planned” in the 1960’s; the properties have been improved and the covenants remain in place today. Rather than changing the lot size and setbacks, “the public use and interest” would be better served if South Hill Development LLC would build homes on lots of similar size to the surrounding community. As proposed now, the number of homes would greatly outbalance the existing two homes directly across the street on 132nd Avenue Court East. We are not opposed to the development of this property, but we strongly feel that a safer and more “harmonious addition” of only two to three houses would better integrate with the older established neighborhood and have less impact on traffic and safety.
We appreciate you taking these comments into consideration.
Sincerely,
Sunrise Terrace Architectural Control Committee
Celeste Hurst, Committee Chair
Luke Rambo, Member
Nancy Jo Williams, Member
Julie Hrivnak, Member
Jacqueline McMahon-Ehlen, Member
Masha Williams-Jeans, Member
Scott Elder, Member
June 12, 2023