Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy has vetoed a County Council ordinance approving various zoning and other changes to the county’s comprehensive land-use plan.

In a letter dated Wednesday, McCarthy cites concerns with two of the “comp plan” changes approved by the council recently after months of public hearings. One amendment, known as T-6, addresses criteria used when evaluating the expansion of urban growth areas. The second amendment, U-8a, would rezone 5.2 acres of land from “rural separator” zoning to “moderate-density single-family residential.”

As I read McCarthy’s veto letter, her concerns are somewhat technical in nature. I don’t have time to follow up on this today, but I thought I’d post the letter and let folks who know more than I do address the significance.

I believe this is just McCarthy’s second veto since she became executive last January (someone correct me if I’m wrong). Last month she issued a “friendly veto” of an ordinance establishing an E-Verify program that would require the county and its contractors to check the legal status of their workers. The council subsequently addressed her concerns and approved the E-Verify measure.