February 6, 2015 · Exit133

Compromise on Weyerhaeuser Mansion... Maybe

It's a truism that you can't please all the people all the time. The situation with the old Weyerhaeuser mansion at North 43rd and Stevens seems to be as good an example of that as any.

If you've been following the battle that has waged for a couple years now, you know that the situation has gone from tense to litigious between the company that wants to continue hosting weddings and other events on the historic property, and the nearby residents who say such events disrupt their neighorhood.

Now there's another possible compromise. This week the Hearing Examiner returned a verdict in the case this week that seeks to thread the needle - allowing continued events, but with more strict conditions that previously imposed. The News Tribune reports that this week's decision lays out those conditions in a 47 page finding.

During the wedding season 3 weddings per week would be allowed
Events are limited to 150 attendees
One on-site parking space must be provided for every 3 guests
Limited music is allowed as a brief part of outdoor ceremonies in the rose garden on the property, limited to 72 decibels or less
Outdoor speakers must be oriented away from the adjacent property
Dance music must be contained to inside spaces
Property owners must construct a wall to screen the adjacent property from noise and other impacts of the festivities

It's not the first decision on this dispute over the use of the Weyerhaueser property, and neither party is happy with the findings, but in a case of such entrenched positions, is it possible that the best you can hope for is an arangement that makes everyone equally unhappy?

Filed under: Neighborhoods, North Tacoma, Tacoma Landmarks, Weyerhaeuser Mansion

4 comments

jaggery2 February 6, 2015

I live close to Jazzbones and they totally flout the noise ordinance constantly and keep me up (not to mention the other problems associated with living next to Jazzbones, like people peeing on my lawn). It's very frustrating.
- ThriceJamie February 10, 2015
  
  Lol at comments on the internet.
  - argonaut February 10, 2015
    
    While somewhat off-topic. I think the commenter was trying to make the point that their are other major nuisances in Tacoma besides the Weyerhaeuser Mansion. Tacoma seems to only pay attention to the ones affecting wealthy people.
Barbara Parsons July 15, 2015

On the contrary, I think the commenter was trying to make the point that the noise factor and flaunting of rules (already documented in the Weyerhaeuser neighborhood) are indeed a problem. Neighbors there have had peeing on lawns, vomiting on lawns, condoms and tampons left on the street. Emergency vehicles have been unable to get to emergencies in the neighborhood.