HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 2015-04-23 Item 4 - Public Hearing: Comprehensive Plan - IntroductionTUKWILA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Introduction
INTRODUCTION
The history of what is now the City of Tukwila is the story of those who stopped
beside the river, traded, fished, built homes, farmed the land, and worked to
create a supportive community. It is the story of how these early settlers
envisioned the prosperous commercial center we enjoy today and began laying
the groundwork for our place in the region. It is the chronology of Tukwila's
willingness to grow and to change with the times, while stubbornly keeping those
strong community values that make the City a real home town.
The demographic and economic changes that have shaped our Country, our
region and our neighboring cities have also changed Tukwila in the twenty years
since we adopted thise Comprehensive Plan in 1995. This 2015 version of the
Plan continues the original vision while reflecting our shifting circumstances and
aspirations for the future.
WHY PLAN?
Tukwila's future Tomorrow is built on yesterday and today. This Comprehensive
Plan is for all of our people, including residents, business community and visitors.
People need a safe and secure place to live, an economy that provides jobs,
ways to get around, schools, and recreational opportunities. It is the local
government's responsibility to provide public services and facilities, develop
policies, and adopt regulations to guide the growth of a city that meets the needs
of its people both now and in the future.
WHAT IS A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN?
A comprehensive plan is a broad statement of community goals and policies that
direct the orderly and coordinated physical development of a city into the future.
It reflects current community goals and needs, anticipates change and provides
specific guidance for future legislative and administrative actions. It reflects the
results of publiccatizen involvement, technical analysis, and the judgment of
decision makers.
The goals, policies, and maps of this Comprehensive Plan provide the basis for
designating the use of land uses, implementing regulations, investing in
infrastructure, and developing programs; and services. The Plan serves as a
developing community services.
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GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT
Washington State's Growth Management Act (GMA) of 1990 and 1991 seeks to
provides a managed framework for growth and development throughout the
state. Among other things, it mandates that fast - growing counties and cities
must develop and maintain a comprehensive plan coveringfor the next 20 years
that incorporates a number of specific elements.
Tukwila is located within King County. In response, tThe King County Growth
Management Planning Council (GMPC) has adopted a series of countywide
planning policies that provide guidelines and lay down requirements for
communities cities within the County in implementing the Growth Management
Act mandates. These requirements include:
• Providing a fair share of gional_ housing through residential
investment in needed infrastructure development and
land use regulationpolicies
• Identifying Urban Growth Areas that can accommodate
at least 20 years of new population and employment and,
where appropriate, Urban Centers of concentrated population and
employment within them
• Determining potential annexation areas consistent with the Urban
Growth Areas
• Identifying, establishing, and protecting open space corridors of
regional significance.
The GMPC also adopted policies regarding the incorporation of Urban Center
and Manufacturing /Industrial Center developments into the comprehensive plans
to ensure future maintenance of the existing quality of life and the environment.
Tukwila's Comprehensive Plan, however, is more than a response to the
mandate expressed in the Growth Management Act and the King County policies
implementing it regionally. It is an essential tool and guide to the preservation
and enhancement of Tukwila's long -term economic growth and community
viability and identity. It expresses the vision of the community and how that
vision may be realized.
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GMA Basics: Planning Pyramid
Growth Management Act Goals
(Multi - )County -wide planning Policies
Comprehensive Plan
i r
Development Regulations
Project Review
WHAT'S IN THE PLAN?
This Comprehensive Plan is designed to be a readable, functional document that
will guide Tukwila's development for the next 20 years. This Comprehensive
Plan has the dual responsibility to meet the goals and needs of Tukwila's current
and future citizenresidents and the fulfillment of its regional responsibilities in
growth management.
Plan Objectives
A glance at Tukwila's new Comprehensive Plan will reveal that it touches on
every aspect of community life and development — from the character of
neighborhoods and standards of urban design to the restoration of areas
threatened with decline and the development of vibrant centers of economic life.
The Plan's essential function is to serve the citizenresidents and business
community by providing guidelines for a safe, livable, economically viable
community with which they are proud to identify_ and which wiliThe Plan will
provide a framework to allow Tukwila to respond dynamically to the changes that
are inevitable over the immediate long term.
The Plan is organized into several chapters, or elements, and goals and policies
have been developed for each element. These are the planning guidelines and
criteria that set the direction and substance of the community's future
development into the first decade of the next century.
All of these elements, goals and policies contribute to the implementation
of the Plan's four major objectives:
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1. To improve and sustain residential neighborhood quality and
livability
2. To redevelop and reinvigorate the Pacific HighwayTukwila
International Boulevard corridor
3. To redevelop and reinvigorate the industrial uses along East
Marginal Way
4. To develop a thriving Urban Center as a true regional concentration
of employment, housing, shopping, and recreational opportunities.
The four major objectives stated above are listed in priority order.
Comprehensive Plan Elements
Comprehensive plans are required by the GMA to address at least five issues, or
"elements:" housing, utilities, transportation, capital facilities, and land use. In
addition, a city may include other elements as local needs and goals dictate.
Tukwila's new Comprehensive Plan, which looks ahead over the next 20 years,
is made up of 15 primary elements, five of which are land use components.
These include the required GMA elements:
Housing
Utilities
Transportation
Capital Facilities
Shoreline
Land Use (divided into 5 separate elements)
A foundational component of the Growth Management Act and
comprehensive planning is the land use element and the designation of
the proposed general location and extent of the uses of land. Tukwila's
entire land area is shown on the Comprehensive Land Use Map where
future land use is designated and formulated to accommodate the building
intensities and the future population targets for the City.
The basic public right for clean water is a Washington State goal for land
use planning. There is no public potable ground water supply within
Tukwila for any of the three water providers. In a different clean water
scenario a revolution has occurred. An emphasis on improved surface
water management means that a greater part of the land area, both public
and private, must be preserved for drainage, flooding, and storm water
run -off. Policies for guiding corrective actions to mitigate and cleanse
discharges that pollute waters of the state, and for Tukwila that means
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waters entering the Duwamish River and Puget Sound, are included in
policies throughout many different elements of this Plan.
Clean air and a healthy public are another fundamental Washington State
goal that is inherent in our land use planning. The City is expected to
utilize urban planning approaches that promote physical activity and
health as well as minimize single occupant vehicular trips, which lead to
transportation congestion, poor air quality and lost economic efficiency.
The majority of the City's jobs and housing are or will be located within the
five following areas, which are the focus of the City's planning efforts. The
City is targeting these areas for capital improvements and services in
order to achieve its vision and goals and to fulfill regional goals for growth
and development and the use of finite public resources.
Residential Neighborhoods
Transportation Corridors Tukwila International Boulevard
Tukwila South
Tukwila Urban Center and
Manufacturing /Industrial Center.
Tukwila's Comprehensive Plan also includes the following optional elements
identified as important to this community:
Community Image and Identity
Economic Development
Natural Environment
Annexation
Parks, Recreation and Open Space
Roles and Responsibilities.
Contextual information that supports the Comprehensive Plan is found in
background reports for each of the elements. These reports and other
references are listed in the Related Information section at the back of
each element.
Comprehensive Plan Map
The Growth Management Act also requires comprehensive plans to contain a
future land use map. Tukwila's Comprehensive Land Use Map meets State
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requirements to identify locations of the following land uses: housing, commerce,
industry, recreation, open space, public utilities, and public facilities. Based on
inventories, the Countywide Plan, and publiccitizen input, it was deemed
unnecessary for Tukwila to provide for agricultural lands or natural resource
lands. The Comprehensive Land Use Map is contained at the back of this
document; larger maps are available at the City of Tukwila Department of
Community Development and online.
HOW WAS THE PLAN DEVELOPED?
In 1992, "Tukwila Tomorrow," a seventeen - member advisory committee
composed of residents, business representatives and property owners, began to
work with ideas gathered from the earlier "Vision Tukwila" community visioning
process. The Committee's first action was to produce a report outlining a
community vision and ideas for achieving it. These ideas were put into a Phase I
background report for each element. Background reports were discussed with
the Planning Commission and City Council. Based on these discussions, which
suggested format and policy language, the Committee's ideas were refined into
Phasc II clement reports. Phase II reports form the basis of the Comprehensive
Plan
The Plan has been kept current with specific annual updates as well as more
comprehensive review in 2004 and in a phased review from 2012 through 2015.
How to Build a Local Comprehensive Plan
1 A tGoals 7
1 gwPPs i 1
Plan Implementa •n, ':vision, Monitoring
Dev RegJ
Plan Adoption
C (', ler tiectsl
Id- tify Action Steps — Stratea ies c'o/
.`"
o/2
G`
Develop Goals and Policies
Inventory — Assess Assets and Deficits
Land Capacity Analysis, CA Identification, CF Assessment
Land Use Map & UGA
Visioning Process — Begin with the end in mind
Population Projections (CWPP)
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The City developed a strategic plan in 2012 that provided a process for moving
from the long -range (10 -to -20 -year) goals and objectives of the Comprehensive
Plan to more specific short -term initiatives and actions. The strategic process
examined:
Where are we now?
• Who makes up our community and how is our population changing?
• What are our major businesses and our role in the regional economy?
• What are our greatest strengths and challenges?
Where do we want to go?
• What is our vision for the future of Tukwila?
• What do we want our community to be like in the future?
How do we get there?
• What actions and investments are necessary to make our vision a reality?
• What timeline is feasible for accomplishing our goals and priorities?
• How can we best serve the needs of our diverse community, including
residents, businesses, and visitors?
The adopted Strategic Plan established a Vision for the future of Tukwila - The
city of opportunity, the community of choice - and five aspirational goals:
• Goal One: A Community of Inviting Neighborhoods & Vibrant Business
Districts
• Goal Two: A Solid Foundation for All Tukwila Residents
• Goal Three: A Diverse & Regionally Competitive Economy
• Goal Four: A High- Performing & Effective Organization
• Goal Five: A Positive Community Identity & Image
These strategic goals are guiding the update of the Comprehensive Plan.
HOW WAS THE PUBLIC INVOLVED?
Over the years the City has striven to reach out to Aall residents, employees and
property owners in Tukwila were contacted about the Comprehensive Plan
process, and encouraged them to participate. A variety of approaches are used
including all -city mailings, A flyer with the proposed land use map and an
e anation of the planning proccss was mailed to all residents and property
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owners in the City. Explanations of, and updates on the Comprehensive Plan
development process received city wide distribution via the Hazelnut newsletter
notice boards, articles in the Tukwila Reporter and information posted to the City
website.
For some topics we have formed advisory committees with residents, businesses
and other stakeholders to provide guidance on new policy directions.
During the 2015 update we explored new approaches including training
community liaisons to reach out to different language groups to conduct surveys
and holding Community Conversations in multiple languages. We provided
information about the Comprehensive Plan at varied community events.
The City has also held informal two "Open House" meetings for citizenresidents,
property owners and business representatives to review maps of recommended
land use changes and discuss goals and policies with City staff as well as—
During its public hearings process,with the Planning Commission and City
Council.
public comments were carefully considered by the Planning Commission in a
..
.- ••••
the City Council. The City Council also held two public hearings before finalizing
the Comprehensive Plan.
In conjunction with public participation in the Comprehensive Plan review,
Tukwila prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which has been
updated along with the Comprehensive Plan through the years. Through the EIS
public participation process, the City solicited review and discussion of the
Comprehensive Plan with neighboring jurisdictions and affected agencies.
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Adopting a Comprehensive Plan is the first step toward realizing the City's vision.
Tukwila's implementation program comprises a combination of short -term and
long -term actions to achieve that vision. A short term action could include
implementing a City -wide communications plan including language translation
strategies to reach and involve all residents. Other implementing The short term
actions include amendment of regulations such as the Zoning Code to align with
newly developed policies. , Subdivision Codc, and the Sign Codc and approval of
Longer -term actions
include sub -area planning, facility development, and developing a Capital
Improvement Plan (CIP) that allocates resources to projects that will spur the
City's development in the direction envisioned in the Plan.
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In addition, drafters of the Comprehensive Plan recognize that a successful Plan
is one that can respond to changed conditions. As long -term changes in land
uses, regional trends or the economic climate occur, implementing ation of the
community's vision may require re- assessment. The Comprehensive Plan
contains the policy wording which provides for monitoring, evaluating, and
amending the plan as community needs change.
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