2013 Annual Amendment
City of Tacoma
Planning and Development Services
Planning Commission Public Hearing
March 20, 2013
Presentation Outline
 Overview
 Proposals
 Notification
 Next Steps
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Plan & Code
 Comprehensive Plan:
– Official statement for future growth and development
– Consistent with state mandates and regional policies
– 26 elements
 Development Regulations:
– TMC Title 13 – Land Use Regulatory Code
– Implement & consistent with the Comprehensive Plan
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Plan & Code Amendments
 Annual Amendments:
– “No more frequently than once per year” (per GMA)
 Purposes:
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Meet legislative requirements
Keep information current
Maintain funding eligibility
Improve customer service
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2013 Annual Amendment
Applications:
Amending:
1.
Drive-Through Regulations
Code
2.
Countywide Planning Policies
Plan
3.
Transportation Element
Plan
4.
Shoreline Related Elements
Plan
5.
Land Use Designations
Plan
6.
Adoption and Amendment Procedures
Code
7.
Platting and Subdivision Regulations
Code
8.
Sign Regulations
Code
9.
Regulatory Code Cleanup
Code
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7 Elements
 Growth Strategy and Development Concept
 Generalized Land Use
 Transportation
 Open Space Habitat and Recreation
 Thea Foss Waterway Design and Development Plan
 Ruston Way Plan
 Shoreline Trails Plan
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7 Chapters
 1.37
Transfer of Development Rights Program
Administrative Code
 10.14
Driveways
 13.02
Planning Commission
 13.04
Platting and Subdivisions
 13.05
Land Use Permit Procedures
 13.06
Zoning
 13.06A Downtown Tacoma
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Process (July
June)
 June 2012
Applications due
 August 2012
Assessment
 Aug 2012 – Feb 2013 Analysis
 Feb – Mar 2013
Public Review
 April 2013
Recommendation
 May 2013
Council Review
 June 2013
Council Adoption
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Summary of Proposals
 #2013-01
 #2013-02
Drive-Through Regulations
Countywide Planning Policies

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Transportation Element
Shoreline Related Elements
Land Use Designations
Adoption and Amendment Procedures
Platting and Subdivision Regulations
Sign Regulations
#2013-04
#2013-05
#2013-06
#2013-07
#2013-08
#2013-09
 #2013-12
Regulatory Code Cleanup
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#2013-01:
Drive-through Regulations
 Where permitted:
– Baseline requirements (driveways, windows, stacking
lanes, setbacks, landscaping, buffers, bicyclists)
 X Districts:
– Additional requirements (stacking lanes behind building,
visual screening)
 Downtown and UCX-TD:
– Located within a building
 To minimize impacts:
– Noise, visual, emission, conflicts with pedestrians
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#2013-02:
Countywide Planning Policies
 Review for consistency
 Policy enhancement recommended
(for 2015 Update)
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#2013-04:
Transportation Element
 Update Unfunded Projects
(maintaining funding eligibility)
 Incorporate “Environmental Justice”
(consistent with VISION 2040)
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#2013-05:
Shoreline Related Elements
 Rescind:
– Thea Foss Waterway Design and Development Plan
– Ruston Way Plan
– Shoreline Trails Plan
 Adopt by reference:
– Tacoma Waterfront Design Guidelines
– Public Access Alternatives Plan
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#2013-06:
Land Use Designations
 Remove “Intensity”
designations in all
Mixed-Use Centers and
Shoreline Districts
Proposed Land Use Designations:
• Single-Family Residential
• Multi-Family (low-density)
• Multi-Family (high-density)
• Neighborhood Commercial
• General Commercial
 Add a “Shoreline”
designation
• Downtown Mixed-Use Center
 Establish a framework
to better align land use
designations with
zoning classifications
• Neighborhood Mixed-Use Center
• Urban Mixed-Use Center
• Community Mixed-Use Center
• Light Industrial
• Heavy Industrial
• Parks and Open Space
• Shoreline
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#2013-07:
Adoption and Amendment
Procedures
 Develop work program in consultation
with the City Council
 Streamline processes
 Consolidate procedures
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#2013-08:
Platting and Subdivision
Regulations
 Increase short plat max from 4 to 9 lots
 Address associated issues:
– Public notice for 5-9 lot short plats
– Off-site/on-site improvements or bonding
– In-lieu fee for open space dedication
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#2013-09:
Sign Regulations
 Address on-site digital signs
 Address associated issues:
– Brightness, Size, Hours of Operation, Message Timing
– Exemptions
 Address minor related issues:
– Pedestrian friendly signs in Mixed-use Districts
– Feather signs
– A-Board signs
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#2013-12:
Regulatory Code Cleanup
 Key Changes Proposed:
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Administrative Determination
Clearer authority for Equivalencies
Allowing variances in Downtown
Craft Production (new use category)
 Purposes:
– Correct errors
– Clarify intent
– Improve effectiveness
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Outreach Efforts
 Stakeholders:
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Dome District
Port of Tacoma
MetroParks Tacoma
Chamber of Commerce
Master Builders Associations
Foss Waterway Development Authority
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Public Works, Police, Legal, and Tacoma Public Utilities
 General Outreach:
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Neighborhood Councils and Community Council
Neighborhood Business District Associations
Master Builders Associations
Sustainability Commission
Blue Ribbon Panel
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Notification
1. Public Hearing Notices (regular and special)
2. Public Notice Signs
3. 60-Day Notices
4. Newspapers
5. Libraries
6. Website
7. Informational
Session (3/13/13)
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Next Steps (Key Dates)
 March 20: Public Hearing
 March 29: Hearing Record Closed
 April 3:
Review Comments / Revise Proposals
 April 17: Commission Recommendation
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Thank you, Staff
 Planning and
Development
Services:
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Stephen Atkinson
Elliott Barnett
Brian Boudet
Shanta Frantz
Cheri Gibbons
Dustin Lawrence
Jana Magoon
Ian Munce
Shirley Schultz
Lucas Shadduck
Lihuang Wung
 Office of Sustainability:
– Diane Wiatr
 Community and
Economic Development:
– Nancy Grabinski-Young
– Mike Murnane
 Public Works:
– Josh Diekmann
– Jennifer Kammerzell
 City Attorney's Office:
– Jeff Capell
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