Futurewise and Friends of Pierce County are holding a public meeting Thursday night to talk about Sumner’s proposal to designate more than 180 acres as urban growth area.

The groups object to the proposal, which was narrowly rejected by the Pierce County Planning Commission earlier this summer.

The County Council has the final say.

The city wants to designate 182 acres to the south as urban growth area, paving the way for a mixed-use development anchored by a YMCA. Proponents say the area, known as Orton Junction, is appropriate for urban growth, and that development there would bring needed …

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The Pierce County Planning Commission has again put off deciding on a controversial proposal that would pave the way for a mixed-use development in Sumner anchored by a YMCA.

After close to four hours of discussion and public testimony Wednesday night, commission members voted to hold off on making a recommendation to the County Council until their July 26 meeting.

It’s a complicated issue and a big decision, members said.

“I’d feel much more comfortable deferring the final decision until our next meeting,” said Malcolm Russell, commission chairman.

The County Council has the final say on the proposal, however if the commission recommends …

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The Pierce County Planning Commission decided last night that it wants more time to consider a proposal that would pave the way for a mixed-used development in Sumner anchored by a YMCA.

It’s now slated to make its recommendation to the County Council in July, said senior planner Dan Cardwell.

The proposal calls for expanding the city’s urban growth area by 182 acres to the south. The Sumner-based Investco Financial Corp. owns most of the property there, and its chief executive officer has listed shops and medical and higher education facilities as possible tenants.

He’s also offered space …

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An alley between two businesses in downtown Sumner will be transformed into a community gathering space that could include public art, tables and benches.

The Issaquah-based Pomegranate Center, a nonprofit focused on community design and development, will lead the work, which is slated to be done by early fall.

Tully’s Coffee gave the center a grant to help with the Sumner project, as well as similar efforts in Wedgwood, Kirkland and Mercer Island. The amount of the grant wasn’t immediately available.

The project won’t cost Sumner any money, although residents of the East Pierce city are expected to contribute …

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The Sumner City Council has picked its new member.

Jon Swanson, who’s currently on the city Planning Commission, was selected Monday from a pool of seven applicants to fill Matt Richardson’s vacant seat.

The 73-year-old, who owns a vending machine company and spent three decades in the auto business, said he plans to run for a full four-year term in the fall.

“I have an interest in the community,” he said. “If I can make an impact with my business background, I’d like to serve the community in that respect.”

The council was split between him and another candidate, Mark …

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The City of Sumner plans to have a new City Council member in place by April 18.

Applications to fill Matt Richardson’s seat are available on the city’s website.

They’re due April 8, with candidate interviews planned for April 11.

The person selected by the council will fill the seat through the November general election. The winner of that election then will be sworn-in.

Last week, Richardson was essentially removed from office by his fellow council members. They voted 4-1 not to excuse his absence from three consecutive council meetings.

Under state law, a council seat becomes vacant …

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The rules governing Sumner City Council meetings don’t explicitly ban public comments made to advance political campaigns.

But they soon could.

The new language is part of a slew of proposed revisions to the rules that outline how meetings are run. They haven’t been changed since 2006 and are due for an update, city officials said Monday.

The discussion is especially timely because conduct at council meetings has been a point of contention in recent months.

“We’ve definitely had the importance of our rules front and center,” Councilman Steve Allsop said after Monday night’s study session.

The council spent three …

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A state agency has declined to formally investigate claims made by a Sumner city councilman that the mayor and other officials broke the law by allowing comments at council meetings meant to help his opponent in a state legislative race.

Councilman Matt Richardson, who unsuccessfully challenged Sen. Pam Roach in last fall’s election, filed the complaint with the Public Disclosure Commission on Nov. 15.

The interim executive director of the agency wrote in a letter to Richardson this week that evidence wasn’t provided that the city broke the law. The city gave the letter to The News Tribune this …

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