Planning 2015-06-18 COMPLETE AGENDA PACKET

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2015 Comprehensive Plan Amendments Staff Report: L13 -0052, L13 -0053 BACKGROUND The City of Tukwila's Comprehensive Plan, first adopted in 1995, establishes goals and policies that guide the community as it grows and changes over time. Its policies and land use map lay out the community's long range vision. The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) gives Tukwila the opportunity to amend the Comprehensive Plan once a year, unless it is an emergency. The Comprehensive Plan has been amended periodically to keep up with changing requirements, and to respond to requests from the public. In addition to these regular amendments, the state Growth Management Act (GMA) requires counties and cities periodically to conduct a thorough review of their plan and development regulations to bring them up to date with any relevant changes in the GMA and to respond to changes in land use and population growth. The last required systematic review and update was completed in 2004. Tukwila's required updates will be complete by fourth quarter, 2015. Tukwila has been preparing the required update over several years, and is reviewing the Comprehensive Plan elements in phases. The update is proceeding according to a general schedule, work plan and public participation program adopted by the Council in March, 2013. To date, update work has been completed on the Manufacturing /Industrial Center element, and the goals and policies in the Shoreline element in 2011. In 2013, the Capital Facilities, Utilities, Natural Environment, Southcenter /Urban Center, Shoreline element supporting text and Transportation elements were updated. Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS), Roles and Responsibilities, Community Image and Identity, Economic Development, and Tukwila South were updated and adopted in 2014. In 2015, the remaining elements will be completed including Transportation Corridors /Tukwila International Boulevard (TIB) District, Housing, and Residential Neighborhoods, as well as the Vision, Glossary and Map Legend. OUTREACH Outreach for the Housing and Residential Neighborhoods elements has occurred during 2014 and 2015. During 2014, City staff made significant efforts to reach out in new ways to bring Tukwila's diverse community into the City planning process. This included identifying and training community liaisons ( "Community Connectors "), who are part of language and cultural populations within Tukwila, including Spanish, Somali, Arabic, Tingrya, Amharic and Burmese, that have not been traditionally involved or heard. The liaisons conducted 194 in- person surveys with their community members about topics relevant to the Comprehensive Plan update including issues associated with housing and development in residential areas. The Connectors invited community members to attend Community Conversation meetings, which were also promoted via email, print and website. The two meetings had a combined record attendance of approximately 180 community members. Participants gathered in small groups to talk about community priorities, neighborhood quality and ways to promote healthy living. A joint City Council /Planning Commission work session, open to the public, was held on March 27, 2015 to gain consensus on the issue to be explored in the updates to the Housing and Residential Neighborhoods elements. A Community Open house showcasing the proposed updates to the Tukwila International Boulevard District element and more information on the Housing and Residential Page 2 of 5 i 5/19/2015