Public Comment Period Closed - Tideflats Subarea Plan Draft Environmental Impact Statement

The Public Comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement closed on May 23, 2024. Thank you to everyone who provided comments at this time. Response to public comments will be incorporated into the Final Environmental Impact Statement. Additional public comment opportunities will be forthcoming for the Draft Subarea Plan.

Below are links to the Tideflats DEIS documents:

• Tideflats DEIS Notice of Availability

• Tideflats DEIS - Full Document

• Tideflats DEIS - Appendices 

Determination of Significance

The City of Tacoma has determined that the Tacoma Tideflats Subarea Plan is likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact. An EIS under RCW 43.21C.030(2) (c) will be prepared.

• Determination of Significance

Scoping and Alternatives

On October 18, 2022, the City Council affirmed the Steering Committee's recommended Alternatives as the basis for the Plan and EIS. The Alternatives include a No Action Alternative and three Action Alternatives. It is anticipated that the alternatives will be based on variations of elements such as the mix of industrial zoning and land uses, employment growth scenarios, transition areas, housing types and location, sea level rise adaptation strategies, fish and wildlife habitat restoration, and shoreline public access and recreation.

For purposes of the No Action Alternative, it is assumed that development would occur within the Tacoma Tideflats Subarea based on existing zoning and development standards. Development or redevelopment that is proposed within the Tacoma Tideflats Subarea in conjunction with the No Action Alternative would undergo environmental review on a project-by-project basis. Such projects would be subject to site-specific mitigation and potential SEPA-based appeals.

• Plan and EIS Alternatives 
• Maps
• EIS Scoping Comment Summary
• Public Scoping Comments - Compiled

Tentative Steering Committee Schedule

The Tideflats Steering Committee is conducting monthly meetings to develop a draft Subarea Plan.

• December 14 @ 3:00 PM: Public Access and Recreation
• January 11 @ 3:00 PM: Brownfields and Remediation
• February 8 @ 3:00 PM: Sea Level Rise
• March 14 @ 3:00 PM: Draft Environmental Impact Statement Review
• April 11 @ 3:00 PM: Environment, Health and Tribal Assets
• May 9 @ 3:00 PM: Land Use and Economic Development
• June 13 @ 3:00 PM: Transportation
• July 11 @ 3:00 PM: Draft Plan Review and Recommendation

Community Informational Meeting Held on June 6, 2022

Thank you to everyone who attended the informational meeting on June 6, 2022, to learn about the Tideflats Subarea Plan and the upcoming SEPA Scoping Process. If you were unable to attend, you can review the presentation or watch the recording here:  

Steering Committee 

On March 24, 2022 the Steering Committee recommended Preliminary Alternatives for the EIS Scoping phase of the process. 

• Agenda Packet
• Recommended Preliminary Alternatives

Steering Committee 

On August 12, 2021 the Steering Committee reviewed the consultant report summary of key findings from the Community Visioning Process. 

• Agenda Packet 

Steering Committee and Tideflats Advisory Group

On March 11, 2021 the Steering Committee met jointly with the Tideflats Advisory Group to review and provide feedback on the draft Baseline Conditions Report. 

• Baseline Conditions Report 

Steering Committee

On July 9, 2020 the Steering Committee approved the Public Engagement Plan for the Subarea planning process. 

• Agenda Packet

Steering Committee

As a follow-up to the July 9 Steering Committee meeting, the intergovernmental Staff Leadership Team has provided the following briefing memo in lieu of a meeting on August 13, 2020. The memo is in response to the Steering Committee's request to explore options to expedite the review and replacement of the Tideflats Interim Regulations.

Staff Briefing Memo (July 31, 2020)

Steering Committee meeting May 14, 2020 

The Tideflats Steering Committee met to discuss project impacts resulting from COVID-19. 

Planning Commission meeting March 4, 2020

The Planning Commission provided input on engagement goals and strategies on March 4, 2020.  

Tideflats Advisory Group meeting February 20, 2020

The Tideflats Advisory Group met on February 20, 2020 to begin discussions to develop a public engagement plan for the Tideflats process. 

Steering Committee meeting Nov. 7, 2019

The Steering Committee met to review and recommend a consultant for the Tideflats Subarea Plan. The recommendation is provided to the Tacoma City Council.

February 8, 2019

The Tideflats Subarea Plan Steering Committee approved the following Work Plan and supporting documents: 

• Work Plan
• Plan Process
• Budget
• Milestones

September 25, 2018

On September 25, 2018, the City Council adopted a resolution approving the City of Tacoma to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement concerning cost sharing for the Tideflats Subarea Plan. The resolution also directed the City Manager to work with the indicated partners to develop a mutually satisfactory subarea planning and approval process no later than 60 days after the agreement is signed by all indicated parties. 

Read Resolution No. 40113

November 21, 2017:

The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 28470 Tideflats Interim Regulations for an initial one-year period. To learn more, visit the Interim Regulations web page.

May 9, 2017:

The Tacoma City Council adopted Resolution No. 39723 initiating a subarea planning process for the Port of Tacoma/Tideflats.

Applicable State Policies

• Growth Management Act
• Container Port Element
• Shoreline Management Act
• Port Districts
• State Environmental Policy Act

Regional Plans and Plan Updates

• VISION 2040
• VISION 2050 
• Transportation 2040
• Regional Transportation Plan Update
• Regional Economic Strategy
• Countywide Planning Policies

One Tacoma Plan 

• One Tacoma Plan Elements
• How the Plan is Implemented
• One Tacoma Plan Tutorial
• One Tacoma Plan Interactive Map

Port of Tacoma Plans and Strategies

• Port of Tacoma Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements
• Port of Tacoma Strategic Plan
• Port of Tacoma Land Use and Transportation Plan
• Economic Impacts Analysis 

Land Use

• Shoreline Master Program
• Tacoma Waterfront Lands Analysis (2008)
• Water-dependent Uses and Water Depth (2009)

Economic Studies

• PSRC Industrial Lands Analysis
• Pierce County Buildable Lands Analysis
• Port of Tacoma MIC Profile

 Transportation and Emergency Response

• Tideflats Emergency Response Plan 
• Tideflats ITS Strategic Plan
• Tideflats ITS Engineering and Implementation Plan (DRAFT)
• Tideflats Area Transportation Study
• East Thea Foss Corridor Study
• Transportation Master Plan

Environment

• Environmental Action Plan
• Climate Resilience Study
• Shoreline Restoration Plan
• Shoreline Inventory and Characterization Report
• Sea Level Rise Projections and Report
• Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy

Public Access and Recreation

• Tacoma Waterfront Public Access Plan
• Tacoma Waterfront Design Guidelines
• Fee-in-lieu Interlocal Agreement

Community Visioning Report Out 

Listen to the Community Visioning Report Out below or review our summary of the Visioning Process here: Community Visioning Engagement Summary. 

Online Survey and Community Visioning Sessions

As an early step in the planning process, we wanted to hear your thoughts on what kind of future you want to see in the Tideflats. We hosted an online survey in the Spring 2021.

We also held three educational vision sessions on March 17, 18 and 20, 2021. Thank you to everyone who attended these virtual community events. You can watch the recordings under the Visioning Session below. 

Visioning Session: Land Use & Economic Development  

Wednesday, March 17, 2021 from noon to 1 PM

Visioning Session: Environment & Health 

Thursday, March 18 from 6-7 p.m.  

Visioning Session: Transportation and Infrastructure

Saturday, March 20 from noon to 1 p.m. 

Tideflats Kick-Off Meeting

English Version

Spanish Version

Introduction

The Tideflats Steering Committee consists of two elected leaders from each of the participating governments as outlined in the Intergovernmental Agreement.  The governments that are members of the Steering Committee include the City of Tacoma, the City of Fife, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the Port of Tacoma, and Pierce County.  The Tideflats subarea planning process will include regular consultation and information sharing with the Steering Committee, and the Steering Committee will be responsible for developing an initial draft Subarea Plan for consideration by the Tacoma Planning Commission and the City Council.

The Steering Committee is comprised of the following membership:

Meetings and Agendas 

To attend upcoming Tideflats Steering Committee meetings, please use the following information:

•  Virtually: Microsoft Teams; Meeting ID: 228 602 641 661, Passcode: snfenG 

•  Dial In: +1 253 617 4257; Phone Conference ID: 172 195 188#

Introduction

The Tideflats Advisory Group (TAG) will act as a "sounding board" for policy discussions, providing support to the Steering Committee and City of Tacoma during their respective parts of the process.  In addition to its role as a sounding board, the TAG members will serve as liaisons to the broader stakeholder groups they represent.

The TAG is intended to reflect a broad and diverse representation of interests and perspectives on the future development of the Tideflats area. The composition of the TAG was agreed to by the Steering Committee in the Work Plan. 

TAG meetings will be open to the public. 

Tideflats Advisory Group Membership

• View the Complete Membership Roster

Meetings and Agendas

To attend upcoming Tideflats Advisory Group meetings, please use the following information:

• Virtually: www.zoom.us/j/82661842507 
• Dial In: +1 253 215 8782; Webinar ID - 826 6184 2507

The State of Washington has multiple layers of policies that come into play when developing a subarea plan. The Tideflats Subarea Plan must be consistent with the following:

• State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) environmental review
• Growth Management Act (GMA)
• Shoreline Management Act (SMA)
• The Puyallup Land Claims Settlement
• The Container Port Element and elements for certification of a Manufacturing and Industrial Center (MIC) by the Puget Sound Regional Council (PRSC)

A Draft Subarea Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement are anticipated to be completed by the end of 2022. 

Once completed, the Tideflats Subarea Plan (TSAP) Steering Committee will provide the City's Planning Commission with a recommendation on the Draft Subarea Plan. The City legislative process for approval of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment will then begin. This includes Planning Commission review and recommendation followed by City Council review and action. This legislative process could take up to an additional year.

In accordance with the Comprehensive Plan, One Tacoma, the City Council has approval authority for the subarea plan.

In some cases, additional approvals or certifications may be required after the Council approves the plan. Any modifications to the City’s Shoreline Master Program, for example, must be reviewed and approved by the State Department of Ecology before those modifications take effect. In addition, the City must receive plan certification from the Puget Sound Regional Council to maintain transportation grant eligibility.

The Tideflats Subarea Plan is being jointly funded and developed through an interlocal agreement between the City of Tacoma, the Port of Tacoma, Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Pierce County and City of Fife. The Steering Committee is  comprised of two elected officials from each the partner governments. The role of the Steering Committee is to develop and recommend a draft Subarea Plan to the City of Tacoma Planning Commission and to provide continued comment and feedback throughout the City adoption process.

The Tideflats Work Plan specifies the stakeholder group, called the Tideflats Advisory Group (TAG), to include adjacent jurisdictions, neighborhood councils, business and industry professionals, labor groups, environmental subject matter experts and regional economic professionals. 

The Tideflats Subarea Plan (TSAP) will be developed through an extensive public process. There will be opportunities for public comment on the scope of work and environmental review, opportunities to provide feedback on specific studies and plan proposals, and both the Planning Commission and City Council will conduct a public hearing on a Draft Subarea Plan.

The TSAP Steering Committee approved a Public Engagement Plan (PEP) that will guide outreach and engagement efforts and strategies.

Yes, the application will be considered within the scope of work for the planning process. In March, 2017, the Northeast Tacoma Neighborhood Council submitted an application to amend the Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Regulatory Code to implement a buffer zone between the residential areas of Northeast Tacoma and the industrial tideflats along Marine View Drive. On May 9, 2017, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 39723, initiating the subarea planning process for the Tideflats. In addition, this Resolution directed staff to consolidate the application within the broader scope of work for the Tideflats Subarea Plan.

In 2009, the Washington State Legislature amended the Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A.085) to include a requirement for a Container Port Element in the Comprehensive Plan for cities that contain a marine container port with annual operating revenues in excess of $60 million. The City of Tacoma falls into this category.

Accordingly, the City of Tacoma, in collaboration with the Port of Tacoma, adopted a Container Port Element within the Comprehensive Plan in 2014. The element provides policy guidance to achieve the following:

• Protection of core areas of container port and port-related industrial areas within the City;
• Efficient access to the core area through freight corridors within the city limits;
• Protection against potential land use conflicts along the edge of the core area; and
• Identification of key transportation corridor improvements.

The Container Port Element is available on the City’s One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan webpage at cityoftacoma.org/onetacoma

On November 21, 2017 the Tacoma City Council adopted Amended Ordinance No. 28470, establishing interim regulations for the Tideflats and other industrial zoning districts. The intent of the Interim Regulations is primarily to put a pause on certain land use and development that could impact the subarea planning process, and to maintain abaseline of use and development for review for the subarea plan Environmental Impact Statement(EIS).

As part of the recent extension of the Interim Regulations, the City Council directed the Planning Commission to reconsider the issues, update findings of fact, and provide a new recommendation to the City Council for land use code amendments that would replace the interim ordinance. For more information on this process, please visit, cityoftacoma.org/tideflatsinterim

By including the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in the subarea planning process, we can streamline implementation of projects that align with the approved subarea plan.

An EIS is prepared when a public agency proposes an action, such as adoption of a subarea plan, and determines that this action may result in significant adverse impacts. The EIS is a document that provides an impartial discussion of potential impacts of the proposal and measures to address those impacts. The EIS process provides public review and comment on the topics to be studied in the EIS (referred to as the scoping process) and on the Draft EIS findings.