Last Frontier KPBM March 2015

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“I thought everyone would love
the idea of a nice restaurant in
the neighborhood.”
EMOTIONS STIRRED
The city of Gig Harbor created
the historic Millville district
in 1991 with the intent of
providing “an intensity and
scale weighted toward a residential-recreational
use” and
protecting existing residences
while still allowing some
development options.
The city changed restaurant 1 uses for Millville in 2011
to allow alcoholic beverages for establishments up to
1,200 square feet, as well as to extend permitted closing
time to 9 p.m. from 7.
That amendment was requested by Moist on behalf of
Stearns and his wife. It also brought opposition from residents
at the time — but, noted Gig Harbor City Councilman
Paul Kadzik, “has been a non-issue” since then.
Kadzik, a former planning commission member, was involved
with the Millville zoning as a resident in the early
’90s. He said Millville would have been zoned as residential
on one side and commercial on the other, so residents
petitioned the city for a buffer zone.
He said the nature of residential Millville has changed
since then. At the time, most homes were rentals and “for
the most part, in a pretty sad state of repair.” The Kadziks,
as well as many of their neighbors, had children in school.
“Now we know it’s a good, solid residential neighborhood,”
he said, adding that with all those kids now grown,
most residents are empty nesters.
“I like the amenities and being able to walk to them
downtown,” he said. “But I understand people who want
a residential feel.”
Carol Davis, a former Millville resident who lived for
18 years across from what is now Netshed No. 9, is one
of those who expressed concerns for the residential feel
of the neighborhood as well as other nuisances like increased
traffic, noise and odors.
“I think the city has the mistaken belief that more business
will create economic vitality and perhaps produce
more tax revenue,” she says. “One or two restaurants will
not support Millville because you’d need people shopping
there on a regular basis.”
Much of the opposition has come from an activist group
called Citizens for the Preservation of Gig Harbor, whose
major concern is that the city is allowing the downtown
to lose its character. The group expressed the same concerns
in 2013 when the city changed the downtown business
district height restrictions to allow taller buildings
in hopes to foster more economic development.
Jeni Woock, a spokesperson for the group, wrote in a recent
guest column that the change in zoning would allow
fast-food restaurants to come to downtown, and even create
a row with as many as 10 restaurants.
City planners have disputed that notion, pointing out
that fast-food restaurants have been allowed elsewhere
downtown since 1990 but none have expressed interest.
The downtown design standards, size and other regulations
have been among the deterrents.
A visioning process several years ago sought public input
on future uses of downtown. The second-highest
need identified by the 120 people who attended the town
hall meeting was restaurants, second only to groceries.
Moist said he didn’t expect to see the public outcry over
his proposed amendment.
“I thought everyone would love the idea of a nice restaurant
in the neighborhood,” he said.
Following the public hearing in November, he submitted
changes that included a smaller affected area as well
John Moist, property manager
for area of requested zoning amendment
as a closing time of 11 p.m.
The city’s planning director,
Jennifer Kester, said she
has only identified five properties
that would allow for
restaurants in that area, and
those sites include Netshed
and Suzanne’s.
MARCH 2015 | 11
IN COUNCIL’S HANDS
The city council had a public hearing on the proposed
amendment on Feb. 23. Of the 28 people who testified, 13
were opposed, 12 were in favor, and three had ideas for
the council’s consideration.
Instead of holding a second reading, the council decided
to have a study session to discuss issues and potential
changes to the planning commission’s proposal. Some
of the questions include whether there should be limits
for deep-fat fryers, the bar area and delivery times, and
whether the hours recommended by the planning commissioners
— 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. — are appropriate.
If the council decides to modify the planning commission’s
recommendations, it must hold another public
hearing. A decision will likely not be made until the end
of April or early May in that case.
Moist said he expects the new Ship to Shore buildings
to break ground by May and be finished by the end of the
year. Provided the city approves the zoning amendment
and later a conditional use permit, Brix could move in
around early 2016 at the soonest.
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