Planning Commission Opening

If your New Year’s resolution is to get more involved, and you live in Tacoma Council District 2 (Northeast, Downtown, Old Town), you might consider applying for the open position on the City of Tacoma’s Planning Commission.

The Planning Commission is charged with advising the City Council on planning issues with the goal of ensuring that all plans, goals, policies and development regulations promote “orderly and coordinated growth and development” in Tacoma.

To this end the Commission develops and updates the City’s Comprehensive Plan and its constituent elements, conducts periodic planning studies of geographical areas of the city, formulates effective and efficient land use and development regulations and processes for implementation of the Comprehensive Plan, and reviews planning issues. Based on this work, the Commission makes recommendations to the City Council. Many of the big issues of the last couple years have come before the Planning Commission – billboards, large scale retail and medical cannabis moratoriums, Shoreline Master Program…

This is a chance for concerned citizens to get down into the nitty gritty of zoning classifications, historic district designation, urban design, transportation and capital facilities programs, and other planning-related issues. If that sounds like your idea of a good time, and you’re a resident of District 2, you’ll want to submit your completed application no later than Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.

The vacancy is for an unexpired term, ending June 30, 2015. To apply, contact Cindy DeGrosse, Mayor’s Office, 747 Market St., Room 1200, Tacoma, WA 98402, (253) 594-7848, or visit www.cityoftacoma.org.

For more information on the Planning Commission, visit the Tacoma Planning Commission page, or check out their 2011-12 accomplishments (pdf). To check district eligibility, check the map of council districts.