I’m way overdue on posting an update to an issue I raised here in April.
Thanks for your patience. This has to do with the proposal to create financial incentives for developers to build apartments and condos in the pink spaces you see in the map. Here’s what’s going on:
– A divided City Council agreed to send the matter back to the planning commission, now that the neighborhood knows about the proposal. We don’t know when this will come up – perhaps this summer? Obviously we will all be watching this time. The planning commission previously voted 4-2 to support the expansion of the incentive, but at least they’ll be listening once the neighborhood provides feedback vs. just hearing from the developer. I really encourage you to listen to the council discussion about whether or not to delay voting as you can learn that they are not one mind of seven people. They’re individuals:
– The hearing has not been scheduled before the planning commission, but what I got from the council meeting is that there will be effective public notice this time. Yay!
– IMPORTANT (if you care about density in Lakewood): This is actually part of a much, much larger issue. The council has set big goals for multifamily housing in downtown, all the area you see within lines on the map: 2,257 units downtown, or roughly 5,500 new residents. The 1,000 people who would move in from the Barnes & Noble site is just a start, with 4,500 more to come if everything was built out.
So no wonder some people want to create an incentive to encourage multifamily housing. What they call downtown below is being asked to incorporate one-quarter of the new residents planned for the city by 2044.
– Why is the city doing this? If you can read this story from the Seattle Times, it explains why other governments are telling cities to pack more housing into their boundaries.
So what’s the city planning?
– To understand what the city has in mind for ‘downtown,’ below, there are videos that explain it. This is where, friends, I am afraid the matter needs your attention. It takes time to watch these. I’m sorry.
Get oriented to the city planning history by watching the video (also just below) that will start at the relevant section:
What got my attention is that they are now talking about increasing density in my neighborhood. Watch the section here (and just below) for the full story:
I know my own home is part of the upzoning to allow for more density from R1 to R2, which you can see very clearly here (also just below):
In other words, when you see the City of Lakewood posting about its annual comprehensive plan update, that’s a very real opportunity to share feedback on how the city should change and evolve.
Good news is, there’s lots of ways to get involved. In fact, the city is pleading with you to get involved. For example, look at this event that was planned recently.
So I have taken forever to suggest you pay close attention to this page, because it says what opportunities you have to provide feedback. The planning commission is holding a hearing on June 5, and the City Council will hold its hearing on August 19.
– Here’s one constructive idea: If we’re going to get 5,000+ new residents in our neighborhood even over a long time, we do need a downtown neighborhood association just like neighborhood groups in other parts of Lakewood. Those of us who live here need a way to talk about what’s going on besides the comments section of The Suburban Times and Facebook groups.
Thank you for learning more about the housing planned for Lakewood’s future.
Ah, Walter NIMBY, the king of urban sprawl and deforestation. This type of attitude is self serving and short sighted. People have been coming to this area for years. It’s not stopping. If they’re not going to live here, then they kill more forest in Graham and Yelm.
There is no other motive here than self centered thinking.
Granted, this is a hot topic, but be polite people!
The expansion areas do not affect me directly and I’m use to ever more people being an okay fact of life, but it’s not clear to me why the expansion is needed at all, given the current abundance of empty land and empty buildings, bordering on blight in places, already. This government is doing what most governments do – expand for the sake of greater control over something. So go ahead and fill (make full use of) the current area, and leave expansion for the distant future.
Thank you Walter. I appreciate your good information very much.
Since I live across the street from where the expansion is going happen, I understand that they may want to utilize the train station that’s in the area, but the city of Lakewood doesn’t do the upkeep on it they have broken stuff over there that needs fixing. I understand that they may put family houses like condos or our apartments since there’s a school close by Patt they end up knocking down some really nice houses that been there for years that could almost be considered historical. Pretty much all I see this is as a land grab and to make money. My area before this development is a nice area no trouble and I feel like with these houses that they’re going to be building or whatever they’re going to be putting over there it could be bringing a lot of issues, and yes everyone can say it is a great idea putting condos or apartments by the hospital.
This are just my thoughts and sorry it’s all over the board
Who is saying there is a housing shortage? Why is all this density suddenly coming into play? Why are officials so hungry? Who is destroying our neighborhoods? Is it a “live within 5-10 minutes for grocery shopping” idea? Is it to eliminate cars? Are we being forced to ride trains that go nowhere? Check out the city rail line that goes from 26th & Pacific Avenue, along K Street to 23rd & K. There is nothing there.
This is happening because of HB1110 and HB1337 passed in July. The state has taken away local control of zoning. There will be different ramifications as a result. I know this because I am a real estate appraiser. We have been teaching classes to real estate professionals regarding the changes in law. It is a slow moving train wreck that will eventually crash. I suggest the author contact us to get more details.
Perhaps another case of the alleged “highest and best use” based upon “expanding the tax base”. Wringing the most money in real estate taxes is often the motivation behind such developments. It’s sort of like a pride of lions looking at a herd of zebra and wanting to expand the protein base! 20 years ago Lakewood faced a similar dilemma with what is now Walmart. The comprehensive plan directed apartments where Walmart now stands. However, the deal was made because mega retail meant more tax revenue and less city social support than apartments. As always, follow the money.
Lakewood should be basing development on “expanding the income base” of its citizens as it has some of the highest poverty rates in the area. CPSD often attributes its academic failure to “free lunches” imagine that! High density housing in a suburban town is sort of an oxymoron and may add to the problem. However to quote then Mayor Bill Harrison “It’s what cities do”. That sounds like a rather poor excuse in this case.