2012 Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Regulatory Code Amendments

At this Tuesday’s study session, Council is scheduled to hear a presentation from the planning commission on recommendations for the 2012 Annual Amendment to the Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Regulatory Code.

This round of annual amendments comes in three areas: housing, transportation, and minor amendments and refinements.

Housing
The housing element changes come on the heels of last week’s resolutions based on recommendations from the Affordable Housing Policy Advisory Group supporting a comprehensive update to the City’s affordable housing policies. The 2012 housing element proposed changes are part of a series of proposed amendments we can expect to see over the next couple years. This round of amendments incorporates eight Affordable Housing Policy Principles, and updates Tacoma’s demographics based on 2010 US census data.

(a) Incorporation of the eight Affordable Housing Policy Principles in the Housing Element in 2012 will provide a basis for developing expanded affordable housing policies and supportive regulatory changes in subsequent annual amendment cycles. The recommended policies will support the consideration of planning tools and programs intended to better address affordable housing issues and the policy, regulatory, and programmatic recommendations of the Affordable Housing Policy Advisory Group.

(b) The GMA requires that the City must include in its housing element provisions for the current and projected housing needs of all economic segments of the community while ensuring the vitality and character of established residential neighborhoods. Keeping the housing needs assessment information current fulfills this requirement.

The eight principles are intended to guide decisions as the City moves forward with the creation of policies and programs aimed at increasing the amount of available affordable housing in Tacoma.

 
1. Affordable Housing is Vital to Important Civic Interests.

 
2. Affordable Housing is Attractive, Innovative and Well Managed.

 
3. The City Needs to Enlist the Engine of Private Development.

 
4. Affordable Housing Developments Spur Other Investments.

 
5. The City Should Welcome Affordable Housing Developments.

 
6. Every City Neighborhood Needs Affordable Housing Developments.

 
7. Affordable Housing as Innovative Design.

 
8. Affordable Housing as a High City Priority amid Competing Interests.

Transportation
Revisions to the Transportation Element

 
1. Reprioritize pedestrian, bicycle and intersection improvement projects, keep
   information current, and address consistency among text, maps and project lists in the Mobility Master Plan section, based on the recommendations of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Action Committee; and

 
2. Update the Unfunded Projects List based on the recommendations of the Neighborhood Councils.
   The bulk of these revisions seem to come in the reprioritization and listing of individual transportation-related projects. We also see the addition of a section relating to Low Impact Pedestrian Trails.

Minor Amendments and Refinements
These include “various minor amendments to the Land Use Regulatory Code and
Comprehensive Plan, generally to address inconsistencies, correct minor errors, provide additional clarity, and improve provisions that, through administration and application of the Code and Plan, are found to be unclear or not fully meeting their intent. Proposed changes include the addition of definitions of alteration, replat or redivision, and vacation; as well as the removal of language relating specifically to “habitat zones” from the Environmental Policy element. Also included are clarifications of sections governing reasonable accommodations procedures, parking and drive-through standards, sign regulations, nonconforming uses.

A public hearing for the proposed amendments is scheduled for this week’s City Council meeting.

More information, including the full text of Planning Commission recommendations is available on the 2012 Annual Amendment page.

Previously from Exit133: Planning Commission Annual Amendments Public Hearing