Tiny home village for homeless headed to Pierce County following zoning change

Yahoo

01-08-2025

The plan to build a tiny-home village for the homeless in Spanaway can move forward following the Pierce County Council's vote to amend zoning codes that were obstructing the project.
Director of the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI), Sharon Lee, told The News Tribune the village at 415 208th St. E. will have 40 to 50 homes.
She said the homes will be 8 feet by 12 feet, insulated, with heat, air conditioning and furnishings. A hygiene trailer, community kitchen, community space, laundry room and case-management offices will be on site. There will be a fully fenced perimeter, security check-in office and 24/7 staffing, according to Lee.
LIHI operates several tiny home villages in the Puget Sound region, including two in Tacoma. Lee said the Spanaway Village will be built in the same model as the tiny home village LIHI recently opened in Tacoma.
LIHI has owned the land where the village will be for some time, but county code prohibiting temporary housing shelters from being built and operated in unincorporated Pierce County for more than 90 days was an obstacle.
Last summer, now-Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello spearheaded an effort as the chair of the County Council to amend county code to allow for the Spanaway tiny home village and others like it to be established outside of Tacoma. Mello and his Democrat colleagues supported the effort to change the code in two separate ordinances that were opposed by Republicans on the council.
Former Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier, a Republican, blocked the efforts with two separate vetoes, calling the proposed change 'unacceptable.'
At the time, Dammeier told The News Tribune the zoning change would circumvent community involvement and would allow tent encampments of up to 60 people to move into residential neighborhoods with 'zero notice.'
In June, the council passed an ordinance amending county zoning code and allowing temporary housing projects to exist for longer than 90 days. The ordinance passed along party lines by a vote of four to three and took effect at the beginning of July.
While the effort by council Democrats to amend county zoning last summer was largely intended to allow a $2.5 million stability site for the unhoused to be established outside of Tacoma, that project seems to have fallen through.
The effort was part of a recognition that Tacoma is host to the majority of homeless shelters in the county. Tacoma's deputy city manager Sonja Hallum previously told The News Tribune the city has about 80% of the region's shelter beds.
'In terms of current impact, the property in Spanaway is the only active project that was previously held up due to county code limitations,' Pierce County Human Service spokesperson Kari Moore told The News Tribune when asked about what projects the ordinance would impact. 'This change removes a major barrier and allows the project to move forward.'
Moore said the county contributed just under $2.6 million towards the tiny home village project. According to LIHI, the property where the village will be built cost $1.55 million, the village will cost to set up $1.5 million, and $1.2 million annually to operate.
Lee told The News Tribune LIHI anticipates opening the village by spring 2026.
'Having a temporary designation is critical and allows us to avoid costly and unnecessary permanent development requirements,' she wrote in an email. 'Our goal is to have occupancy by Spring 2026 but it depends on how quick the new permitting process is.'
Lee said LIHI will work with Pierce County to refer residents to the Spanaway Village. LIHI's tiny home villages serve as temporary housing for those experiencing homelessness to get back on their feet while looking for permanent housing.
According to LIHI, more than half of tiny home residents stay in villages for less than six months before transitioning.