Tensions were unusually high at Sumner City Council’s regular study session April 26 during discussion of zoning code amendments.

A rift exists between the majority of council who believe there are benefits from changing the comprehensive plan and the dissenting voice saying the decision means a dramatic change for the city.

Amendments originally came before council at the April 5 meeting and were tabled pending council review.

The amendments stem from the adoption of a Manufacturing and Industrial Center overlay, which the council adopted in October of 2009 following contentious election-era debate.

The council voted to establish the MIC overlay as a way to qualify for more federal funding. Community Development Director Paul Rogerson said the overlay is a way for the city to be more competitive for federal funds. The city’s comprehensive plan was amended in 2009 to include the MIC to relieve the tax burden on local taxpayers, improve roads in the north end of Sumner and create jobs.

The overlay and the amendments affect the industrially zoned land in the northern part of Sumner. The overlay will increase the opportunity for commercial and office development in the industrial zones.

The amendments involve the allowable types and locations of retail business and types of indoor commercial recreation allowed. Amendments also add specific definitions of noxious chemical plants, which are already banned, definitions of air separation facilities and regulations stating where pharmaceutical plants could be located.

Following discussion of the amendments, councilmember Matt Richardson spoke at length about his concern that the MIC will have a negative effect on Sumner, an opinion he made a central point during his 2009 mayoral campaign against Mayor Dave Enslow.

Richardson maintained the decision will, years from now, cause Sumner to resemble the Port of Tacoma and Fife, not just in terms of the buildings and overall size, but traffic, especially commercial trucks.

“The car and truck traffic coming through the work zone is going to be massive,” he told The Courier-Herald.

Richardson said the MIC will almost be the size of the Port of Tacoma, which is 2,400 acres.

A map available from the city shows the designation of the MIC in which the area of study is 2,200 acres, but Sumner’s MIC overlay is 1,800 acres. The remaining 400 acres are in Pacific.

“It’s still connected,” Richardson said. “You’re talking about one contiguous, connected MIC zone,” Richardson said.

Richardson said Sumner will grow rapidly because the council will not stand in the way of the development of the funding the city may receive.

“They’re never going to say no to the funds,” Richardson said.

Council members maintain they’ll make decisions based in the best interest of Sumner.

Richardson said the MIC will limit impact housing to the downtown area.

“We haven’t really talked about how this MIC allows for no housing north of Elm,” Richardson said.

He maintains future housing will be in the downtown area and leading to more congestion from public transportation.

“Whatever housing density we’re having is going to be high density housing and will need to be connected by bus/rail,” Richardson said.

Richardson also believes a conflict will exist with the current location of the golf course, but council and Planning Director Ryan Windish see no compatibility problems regarding the MIC.

He said there isn’t a conflict between the overlay and the location of the golf course.

“I don’t see an incompatibility,” Windish said.

After Richardson spoke, Enslow interrupted to remind him the council was there to discuss the amendments and not the original ordinance.

“It seems we’ve departed a bit from amendments,” Enslow said.

When Richardson resumed speaking, councilmembers Ed Hannus and Leroy Goff, who both voted for the ordinance, rose to their feet and began collecting their belongings.

After more from Richardson regarding the MIC, other councilmembers spoke.

“I’ve heard enough,” Goff said.

He stayed a short while longer before walking out.

Other councilmembers continued the discussion.

Councilwoman Cindi Hochstatter was unusually vocal and told Richardson if every councilmember did this every time they lost a vote, the council would be ineffective.

“We all need to move forward,” she said.

She told Richardson others don’t share his opinion.

“That’s only your point of view,” she said.

Richardson said the MIC issue is several layers deep and council is looking at only one layer.

“It’s post-election allegiances to the mayor that are blocking their evaluation of what’s going on,” Richardson said.

Enslow said the council makes decisions independent from what his own. In certain votes, he may break a tie among the council’s decision, but he doesn’t vote on matters before council.

“They are seven people with seven opinions and they want the MIC zone,” Enslow said.

Windish said council could make changes to the city’s comprehensive plan if it’s what the council decides.

“They would have to amend the city’s comprehensive plan to change it to a residential use,” Windish said.

Council has the opportunity to change the comprehensive plan once each year.

“I’m really pleased to see the chnage from a warehouse area to an industrial area,” Enslow said. “We’re looking at a lot of added jobs at a time in which everybody needs jobs,” he said.

Enslow said the area zoned for housing prevents the establishment of industrial structures there and is ideal for residential property.

“There’s a thriving housing section,” he said. “It’s a great place for houses.”

Discussion will continue when the amendments come before council for possible adoption at the next council meeting.