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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial 2013-07-30 Index 1 - Informational MemorandumCity of Tukwila Jim Haggerton, Mayor INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM Mayor Haggerton TO: Committee of the Whole Jack Pace, Director Department of Community Development FROM: Rebecca Fox, Senior Planner BY: July 8, 2013 DATE: Comprehensive Plan Update SUBJECT: ISSUE The City of Tukwila is conducting its periodicreview and update of its Comprehensive Plan as required by the Washington Growth Management Act (The Planning RCW 36.70A.130(1)). Commission has completed its review of the elements to be considered in 2013, and is forwardingitsrecommendationsto the City Council for action. BACKGROUND The City of Tukwila’s Comprehensive Plan, 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) generally gives Tukwila the opportunity to amend the Comprehensive Plan once a year. Applications for amendments are due by December 31, and are reviewed during the following year, with the potentialfor two separate reviews by the City Council, and one by the Planning Commission. There are opportunities for public comment at each stage. In addition to regular amendments, the state Growth Management Act (GMA) requires counties and cities to conduct a thorough reviewof their plan and development regulations periodically in order 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. The current update is due by June 30, 2015. Tukwila is undertaking the required update effort over several years, with the Comprehensive Plan elements being considered in phases.Updates to the Manufacturing/Industrial Center element, and the goals and policies in the Shoreline elementwere completedin 2011. On March 18, 2013, the City Council adopted a general schedule, work plan and public participation program to guide theremaining Comprehensive Plan update work through June, 2015 deadline. The public participation and work programs include a general sequence and schedule of steps to ensure that public is aware of the process and knows how they can participate. Public participation activities will not be uniform, but instead will betailored to the characteristics of individual elements. The City Council referred the update work to the Planning Commission for review and recommendation. On March 27, 2013 a public open house was held to share the Comprehensive Plan update process and key background issues with the community, and to learn specific concerns or interests.Staffdiscussed the Comprehensive Plan with the young community members at the Teen Kickoff at Foster High School. In addition, staff plans to provide information on the INFORMATIONAL MEMO Page 2 Comprehensive Plan update at the “Touch a Truck” event at Foster High School, and at a lunchtime concert at the Tukwila Community Center. The upcoming Community Liaison programwill focus its pilot project on the Comprehensive Plan update by engaging varied communities in discussion of housing and economic development in the Tukwila International Boulevard area. DISCUSSION During 2013, the Planning Commission reviewed the following elements, and held a work session and a public hearing: 1)Utilities andCapital facilities elements(April, 2013); 2)Transportation and Southcenter/Urban Center elements (May, 2013); 3) Natural Environment and Shoreline (narrative only) elements (June, 2013). The City Council and Planning Commission met with the Tree Committee for a joint work session on June 25, 2013. The Comprehensive Plan updateincludesfollowing assumptions: Primary goals and objectives remain relevant and will be maintained from the current Plan; Updates will focus on elements that require revision per changes to the Washington Growth Management Act, and regional requirements (i.e. Vision 2040, Countywide Planning Policies); Tukwila Strategic Plan’s vision and goals will be reflected and incorporated intothe Comprehensive Plan; Policies and descriptions will be updated, and edited as needed to increase clarity and consistency throughout the document; The format will be updated to improve on-line usability and attractiveness; Elementsmay be reorganized or consolidated for greater readability and conciseness. The binderincludes the following materialsfor each element: 1.A “clean,” newly-formatted version of the element that shows all the Planning Commission’s proposed additions and deletions from the strikeout/underline version. This version reflects the appearance of the updated Comprehensive Plan; 2.A complete strikeout/underline version of the proposed element with all language that has been added to and/or deleted from the “base” of the current Comprehensive Plan element. This version shows the rationale for proposed changes, and lets the reader follow the revision process. New language is shown in blue, and deleted wording is shown in green/grey: 3.A Background Report that provides additional supporting information for the element and policies. These materials are intended to encourage discussion and provide backgroundfor the update during the work session.If Council members have questions prior to the work sessions, DCD staff are available to discuss this with you. REQUESTED ACTION RF Z:\DCD n Clerk's\CC Comp Plan Binders\1 Intro Memo .doc 7.8.13 INFORMATIONAL MEMO Page 3 After holding work sessions on the recommended changes to the Utilities, Capital Facilities, Southcenter/Urban Center, Transportation, Shoreline (narrative) and Natural Environment elements on July 30 and 31, 2013, the Council is requestedto hold a public hearing onAugust 12, 2013. Afterdeliberations and any additional changesthe City Council is requested to take final action to approve the 2013 portion of the update to the Comprehensive Plan. ATTACHMENTS Binder with dividers for the following Comprehensive Planelements: 1)Utilities 2)Capital Facilities 3)Transportation 4)Southcenter Plan 5)Shoreline 6)Natural Environment RF Z:\DCD n Clerk's\CC Comp Plan Binders\1 Intro Memo .doc 7.8.13