1. City of Pierce
Welcome and Follow Up

2. Initiative:
Create a Pathway for Reasonable Growth in the Central Pierce County Urban Growth Area
Challenge management and staff to facilitate urbanization through:
Interpretation of regulations,
Creation of policies
Prioritization of infrastructure improvements
Prioritization of services and amenities, and
Managerial support

3. Identifies Population Projections for Unincorporated Pierce County
2000
2010
20 Year Population Target
Pierce County
700,820
795,225
1,014,972
Unincorporated
(within UGA)
315,359
366,738
(207,839)
442,257
(265,265)
Population Growth
75,519
57,426

4. What About the Cities? 2010 Census Estimations Projected Growth
Municipalities
428,487
144,228

5. Vacant and Underutilized Parcels*
Type
Parcels
Gross Acres
Avg. Acres
Underutilized
2,087
4,305.9
2.06
Vacant
392
934.8
2.38
Vacant Single Unit
3,324
658.7
0.20
Total
5,803
5,899.4
1.02
Type
Parcels
Net Acres
Avg. Acres
Underutilized
2,087
3,958.7
1.90
Vacant
392
825.7
2.11
Vacant Single Unit
3,324
556.1
0.17
Total
5,803
5,340.5
0.92
*Zoned for residential use within the UGA/
City of Pierce (2010 parcel data)

6. Lot Availability: Majority vacant parcels less than 5 acres
Vacant and Underutilized Lots (2010)
Majority vacant parcels less than 5 acres
Size (Net Acres)
Vacant
Underutilized
>40 acres 5 -
>20 but less than 40 acres 11
>10 but less than 20 acres 25 43
>5 but less than 10 acres 87
197
>2.5 but less than 5 acres
221
2,780
>1 acre but less than 2.5 acres
520
Total Parcels
1,621
3,021

7. Development Activity

8. General Location and Boundary
Central Pierce County Urban Growth Area
Excludes areas currently negotiating interlocal agreements (Puyallup PAA)
Encompasses the urban areas of 5 community plans
Contains 3 major N/S and 2 major E/W transportation corridors

9. Policy Direction Summary
Highlighted Policy
Growth Management Act
Vision 2040
Countywide Planning Policies
Comp
Plan
[Prevent] a pattern of sprawling low density development from occurring or vesting … prior to the ability to support urban densities. Once this pattern has occurred, it is more difficult to serve with urban services and less likely to ultimately achieve urban densities.
Encourage efficient use of urban land by maximizing the development potential of existing urban lands, such as advancing development that achieves zoned density.
Within the delineated urban growth areas … adopt measures to ensure that growth and development are timed and phased consistent with the provision of adequate public facilities and services.
Contain and direct growth within the designated Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) where adequate public facilities exist or can be efficiently provided.

10. Urban VS. Rural

11. Urbanization:
A philosophy of approaching all:
Regulations (interpretations, amendments, or new)
Project review (recommended conditions, variances or deviations), and
Management Decisions
with the goal of maximizing infill and density potential within the City of Pierce

12. Infill and Density First
MSF/Infill – PALS takes initiative
Corridors – City of Pierce Focus

13. Garfield Commons VS. Surrounding Commercial
University development is pedestrian oriented with high level of business activity
Development across the street is vacant with large, empty parking lots
University development is pedestrian oriented with high level of business activity
Development across the street is vacant with large, empty parking lots

14. Deserted Shopping Center VS. High Traffic Shopping Center
Kmart Shopping Center at Pacific and Military/176th
Walmart Shopping Center at Mountain Hwy and 224th

15. The Corridors
City of Pierce Focus

16. Guidance
Consistent with Vision 2040 Multicounty Planning Policies, the 2015 Comprehensive Plan Update added new planning ideas and funding policies for:
Compact Communities
Transit-Oriented Corridors

17. PSRC - Requirement for Compact communities and Centers
PSRC Checklist:
Urban
Include provisions to develop compact urban communities and central places with densities that support transit and walking. (MPP- DP-14)
Centers
Identify one or more central places as locations for more compact, mixed-use development (MPP-DP-11)
Demonstrate how funding has been prioritized to advance development in centers and central places (MPP-DP-7, 10, 13; MPP- T-12; MPP-H-6)

18. 2015 Comprehensive Plan Centers/Corridors Policies
GOAL LU-10 Designate Centers/Central Places and Transit- Oriented Corridors characterized by the following:
LU Clearly defined geographic boundaries;
LU Intensity/density of land uses sufficient to support high capacity transit
LU Pedestrian (bike) connections
LU Provisions to reduce single-occupancy vehicle use especially during peak hours and commute times;

19. Bending the Trend – Vision 2040 Regional Growth Strategy
Pierce County strategies:
Designate and direct growth into Compact Communities and Transit- Oriented Corridors.
Prioritize capital facilities funding for enhancement of Compact Communities and Transit-Oriented Corridors.
Require urban density lots and plat design that will accommodate future urban density when outside sewer access.
Make density a priority while implementing Low Impact Development.
Establish land use patterns and transportation facilities that encourage physical activity.

20. Existing Zoning

21. The Corridor

22. Walkable Area

23. What does ¼ mile radius look like up close?
Parkland: Pacific Ave S & 112th St E
Spanaway: Pacific Ave S & 176th St E

24. What does ¼ mile radius look like up close?
Longston Place: Meridian & 128th/136th
Sunrise Village/Thun Field: Meridian & 160th

25. Corridor Plan Concept
The Corridor would have the following land use, transit, and infrastructure characteristics:
Compact, Higher Density Communities
Transit Access to Jobs and Shopping
Pedestrian/Bicycle Connectivity
Prioritized Infrastructure

26. Corridor Strategies Within the ¼ mile radius Corridor Planning Area
Transit-Supportive Density:
Overlay a density of 12+ units per acre to create land use patterns and densities that will support transit.
Transit Access to Commuter and Shopping Opportunities:
Serve the corridor with short/high interval local transit such as trolleys for shopping and commuter transit.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Connectivity:
Develop pedestrian/bike paths connecting residential areas to the commercial services.
Target Infrastructure Improvements:
Focus transportation and utility infrastructure expenditures to support increased density and transit services.

27. PSRC Expectation of Pierce County
Funding for Centers/Corridors shall be a high priority
Provide a separate funding category for Centers and Corridors in Capital Facilities Plans
Establish criteria for prioritizing identified improvements
Identified improvements shall meet Comprehensive Plan objectives
(Comp Plan Policies LU-19 to 19.4)

28. To encourage development you need:
Predictable and “flexible” regulations
Higher density and less height restrictions
Reduced parking requirements
A “Draw”
A cohesive review team that facilitates creative solutions
- John Korsmo
Developer of Garfield North

29. Questions?