FPC presents Hearing Examiner booklet

Pierce County is the second most populated County in Washington State with a population of 624,000 people with 84% of the population growth occurring in unincorporated areas (Pierce County 2003). The Puget Sound Regional Council (2003) notes a population increase of 147,795 between 1990 and 2003.

The Growth Management Act allows communities to manage growth while striving to maintain its quality of life (WSCTED 1997). With rapid growth occurring in most areas, citizens want to provide input on how their communities are planned. They are given the change to do this in the public hearing process.

Often, public input has not been a strong enough factor in determining where and how development occurs. Citizen testimony at public hearings, which is aimed at balancing environmental concerns with development, often lacks organization and focus and suffers because of inexperience with plans and development regulations.

Although publicly available, Pierce County plans and regulations are not easily obtainable, and citizens may not have the experience, skill, or time to interpret relevant documents before providing testimony or recommendations to the Hearing Examiner. Citizens must be knowledgeable of regulations and processes to be effective.

This document is an attempt to inform citizens about the land use process in Pierce County and assist them in preparing Hearing Examiner testimony. Friends of Pierce County will hold four workshops throughout Pierce County to present concepts included in the booklet that will help educate citizens about the land use process in Pierce County and strategize for public hearings at the Hearing Examiner level.

To learn more about the booklet or dowload it, click here.