To the City of Tumwater:
We object to Port-Panattoni plans to build a mega warehouse in our neighborhood. Hundreds of comments representing thousands of Thurston County taxpayers have raised serious concerns about the Panattoni plans in recent years. Tumwater listened, and proposed a Development Agreement to mitigate bad impacts, protect the Bush Middle School area and still allow development. Port boss Gibboney rejected Tumwater's compromise. Serious concerns about Panattoni remain, such as public health and safety, traffic and groundwater, and impacts of logging Tumwater's largest urban forest in the face of worsening climate impacts. We are also concerned about the port's scant financial analysis, and one commissioner's conflict of interest, as a realtor who brokered the Panattoni deal.
The Salmon Creek Basin Neighborhood Association, representing hundreds of homes near the proposed mega-warehouse, is gravely concerned about the Port-Panatonni plans. We appeal to Tumwater to protect our community.
Require an EIS, and make the Port meet the standards of the Development Agreement you proposed last year, at a minimum. Better yet, send the Port back to the drawing board, and require that they follow their own Master Plan for the New Market Industrial Campus. They should prioritize development along Tumwater Blvd, and recreation in District 4 - not mega-warehouses near the middle school.
~ E.J. Zita and Nancy Armstrong, Tumwater
Editor's note: E.J. Zita served as a Port of Olympia commissioner from 2015- 2021.
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AugieH
It's the anticipated revenue for the Port that talks the loudest. Just ask the City Council of the county's Warehouse Capital, Lacey.
Tuesday, July 19, 2022 Report this
Southsoundguy
Tumwater deserves better then to be a dumping ground for giant warehouses. Buy the land back and dedicate to a better use, don’t let the government and its “master” plan destroy YOUR community.
Tuesday, July 19, 2022 Report this
Citizen
Yesterday, it was announced that an Amazon Manager resigned for overbuilding warehouse space. Is the proposed warehouse actually needed? What mitigation has been planed for the increased heavy truck traffic on City and state roads? Who will pay for road repair, pollution from increase traffic and noise? Is an environmental impact statement required? What about storm water drainage? Who will pay for all of these and no doubt numerous other problems caused by a giant warehouse and increased traffic?
How about a ferry to Tacoma or Seattle instead?
Wednesday, July 20, 2022 Report this