The Truth Behind the Replat Proposal
Kensington Gardens Resort Living Community is requesting to divide their property into sub-parcels for what they claim will be 'single-family homes.' We support more housing - our communities genuinely need it. But this isn't about homes for families. This is a master-planned luxury retirement community, which is commercial development - prohibited in rural zones. A master-planned community needs to go through the specific, comprehensive process designed for it. They're using the replat process to circumvent zoning laws by disguising commercial facilities as residential homes.
If They Win Here, Nowhere is Safe.
If Kensington Gardens gets away with building four more massive commercial buildings disguised as 'single-family homes,' it will set a precedent for apartment complexes, multi-family residential structures, and other incompatible developments throughout our protected rural areas. Lack of enforcement raises serious questions: if regulations aren't upheld here, what other non-compliant projects might slip through? Our rural character is one key thing that makes Gig Harbor distinctive—once we lose these protections and places, we can't get them back.
Their Master Plan: Multiple "villas" and commercial facilities disguised as single-family homes - this is clearly a commercial resort development, not residential housing
What's Really Happening
Kensington Gardens has already built one 20,000 square foot commercial retirement facility and now wants to build four more buildings on a very similar scale - all while claiming they're 'single-family homes.' If Pierce County approves this deception, every rural area in Gig Harbor becomes a target for similar development.
The Reality: This is what Kensington Gardens calls a 'single-family home' - a 20,000 sq ft commercial retirement facility with multiple units
Just ONE Floor of Their 'Single-Family Home': Six separate luxury suites with individual entrances, kitchens, and living areas on a single level - this is clearly a multi-unit commercial facility, not a single-family residence
If they succeed here, we can expect:
- Apartment buildings claiming to be 'single-family homes' throughout rural zones
- Multi-family residential structures replacing our remaining rural and wild environments
- Commercial operations disguised as houses
- The complete erosion of zoning and protections that preserve our community character
What We're Losing
What Was Lost: The historic homestead and natural landscape that was cleared for this commercial development - once it's all gone, we can't get it back
🏡 Our Rural Character
The farming heritage, and pastoral character that make Gig Harbor special and are protected by the Pierce County Comprehensive Plan
🌿 Habitat and Natural Beauty
Dense forests, wetlands, creek, wildlife habitat for endangered and threatened species
🚗 Community Safety
Narrow, winding hillside rural roads can’t accommodate traffic and emergency vehicles to and from a “resort community”
💧 Groundwater Protection
All neighbors are on wells - sewage from high density housing threatens our drinking water
What Residents Are Saying
"My heart breaks seeing forest after forest completely clear cut."- Linda Healy
"All rules for commercial building MUST be followed!"- Kelly Allard
"We need to protect our rural areas and wildlife"- Ruth Johnson
What's At Stake
⚠️ IF THIS IS APPROVED:
- Establishes a precedent that could lead to:
- Vulnerable communities housed in inappropriate areas
- Multi-family residential developments eliminating remaining rural areas
- Commercial operations disguised as homes
- End of rural zoning protections
- Traffic, noise, and overdevelopment everywhere
- Loss of wildlife habitat and natural beauty
- Sewage from high density housing contaminating groundwater
- Gig Harbor becomes another overdeveloped suburb
✅ 🌲 IF WE STOP IT:
- New housing is concentrated in areas that can provided needed services
- Wildlife habitat protected
- Rural character preserved
- Groundwater stays clean
- Future generations can enjoy what we love about Gig Harbor
The Petition
Read what you're signing - this petition will be submitted to Pierce County Planning Office
We, the undersigned, demand Pierce County REJECT the Kensington Gardens Resort Living Community sub-plat and protect our cherished rural and wild areas.
This is about more than one development - it's about setting a precedent that will destroy the remaining rural areas in our community.
WHAT THEY'VE ALREADY DONE:
Kensington Gardens has already built one 20,000 square foot commercial retirement facility with multiple units and an underground parking garage in a rural zone. County records classify it as a 'commercial retirement home,' yet they continue claiming it's a 'single-family home.'
WHAT THEY WANT:
Four more buildings on a very similar scale, creating a massive commercial resort with residents and dozens of staff members - all in an R5 rural zone where such facilities are PROHIBITED.
WHY WE MUST STOP THIS:
If Pierce County rewards this deception, it signals that ANY developer can:
- Build apartment complexes and claim they're single-family residences
- Construct multi-family residential structures in rural zones by calling them 'single dwelling units'
- Destroy protected rural areas with impunity
- Ignore zoning regulations designed to preserve our community character
WE DEMAND ACTION ON:
Environmental Protection: Stop the destruction of wetlands, streams, and dense forest habitat. This area provides critical wildlife habitat for endangered species.
Rural Character Preservation: Preserve the farming heritage and pastoral character that define Gig Harbor and are protected by the Pierce County Comprehensive Plan.
Groundwater Protection: All neighbors are on wells. Commercial waste from hundreds of people threatens our drinking water and must be stopped.
Infrastructure Reality: Our narrow roads, septic systems, and emergency services cannot handle massive commercial operations.
Zoning Enforcement: Commercial retirement facilities are prohibited in R5 zones for good reason. Enforce existing laws instead of rewarding violations.
Community Voice: Listen to the 100+ residents who have repeatedly opposed this inappropriate development.
Future Protection: Prevent the precedent that will destroy every remaining rural area in Pierce County.
We live in Gig Harbor for its natural beauty, rural character, and escape from urban density. Don't let developers destroy what makes our community special.
We recognize the importance of finding good housing options as we age, just like finding solutions for affordable housing. But there are safe and appropriate locations for these developments - places where residents can access the care and services they need affordably, without destroying rural communities or threatening groundwater.
Pierce County must choose: Protect rural Gig Harbor or watch it disappear forever under commercial development.
REJECT Kensington Gardens expansion - SAVE Rural Gig Harbor.
Sign the Petition - Save Rural Gig Harbor
Your voice matters. Comments will be forwarded directly to Tony Kantas at the Pierce County Planning Office.
Three Ways to Save Rural Gig Harbor
Sign this petition
Join 100+ neighbors fighting for our community
Include personal comments
Tell Pierce County why rural character matters
Attend the hearing
Show up in person to make your voice heard. More details at https://tinyurl.com/4dy4xc84.