IPS Review & Recommendation 

At the August 30, 2021, special meeting of the Infrastructure, Planning, and Sustainability Committee (IPS), the Committee prepared their final review and made their recommendations to the full City Council. The recommendations were presented to the full City Council on August 31, 2021.

 Read the Recommendations from IPS

 

Background 

Starting May 25, 2021, the Infrastructure, Planning, and Sustainability Committee will review the proposed Non-Interim Regulations and provide a recommendation to the full City Council no later than August 31, 2021.

Each meeting date will have individual topics as seen in the table below, as well as each meeting’s individual agenda, minutes, and audio recordings, as they become available. Written comment can be sent to IPSTideflats@cityoftacoma.org and are compiled at 3 PM the day of each meeting.

 

 

 

Environmental Review Documents

• Revised Determination of Non-significance and Addendum (September 17, 2021)
• Revised Determination of Non-significance (April 14, 2021) 
• Addendum (April 14, 2021) 
• Public Comment and Responses (April 14, 2021) 
• Preliminary Determination of Non-Significance and Checklist

This was the date set for a public hearing by the City Council on the Planning Commission’s recommended amendments to Titles 13 and 19 of the Municipal Code, entitled Land Use Regulatory Code and Shoreline Master Program, to replace Amended Ordinance No. 28470, Tideflats Interim Regulations.

 

• Summary
• Presentation
• Audio
• Written Comment

Planning Commission Recommendation for Non-Interim Ordinance

On April 7, 2021, the Planning Commission forwarded its Findings of Fact and Recommendations Report to the City Council for consideration. 

• Findings of Fact and Recommendations Report (April 7, 2021)

Background Documents

Public Scoping (Completed)

Following a public scoping hearing on December 2, 2020, the Planning Commission finalized a scope of work and process schedule to provide the City Council with recommendations by the end of March 2021. 

• Final Scope of Work (December 2, 2020)
• Public Comments on Draft Scope of Work
• Audio Recording 
• Staff Presentation 

2021 Planning Commission Agenda Materials 

• January 6 - Discussion Items: Permit Notification, Conversion of Industrial Lands, Residential Encroachment 
• January 13 - Listening Session Packet / Audio  
• January 20 - Discussion Items: Mining and Quarrying, Smelting, Coal Facilities, Chemical Manufacturing 
• February 3 - Discussion Item: Fossil Fuel Production Facilities and Renewable Fuel Production Facilities 

March 3 Planning Commission Public Hearing 

• Public Review Document - Complete 
• SEPA DNS and Checklist 
• Public Comments and Responses Summary 
• Compilation of Oral and Written Testimony 
• Audio Recording

March 17 - Agenda Packet

 

April 7 - Agenda Packet 

 

Public Comment Map

Tideflats Public Scoping Map: Use this map to explore existing conditions, One Tacoma Plan policies, and use the comment feature to comment on potential amendments or to identify specific areas of concern. 

 

Periodic Reporting on Permit Activity and Fossil Fuel Trends

To support the City Council's deliberations concerning the Tideflats Interim Regulations, the following report on permit activity and fossil fuel trends was presented to Council at the September 22, 2020 Study Session.

• Tideflats Interim Regulations Periodic Report

 

Legislative Background

Adopted on November 21, 2017, the Tideflats Interim Regulations, Amended Ordinance No. 28470, includes the following elements:

• Category 1: Expanded public notification of heavy industrial use permits;

• Category 2: Temporary prohibition of new non-industrial uses in the Port of Tacoma Manufacturing and Industrial Center;

• Category 3: Temporary prohibition of new residential development along Marine View Drive and NE Tacoma slopes; and

• Category 4: Temporary prohibition on certain types of new heavy industrial uses.

Since the initial adoption of the Interim Regulations in 2017, the Council has taken the following actions to extend the ordinance:

• November 13, 2018: Ordinance No. 28542 – 6-month Extension

• May 21, 2019: Ordinance No. 28582 – 6-month Extension

• November 12, 2019: Ordinance No. 28619 – 6-month Extension

• May 19, 2020: Ordinance No. 28671 - 6-month Extension

• October 20, 2020: Ordinance No. 28696 - 6-month Extension

 

Public Hearing on Proposed 6-Month Extension of The Interim Regulations

A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, September 29, 2020, upon completion of the regular agenda items, no earlier than 5:15 p.m., on the proposed six-month extension of the Interim Regulations relating to the Tideflats Subarea Planning process.

 

To comply with Governor Inslee's Emergency Proclamation, and the City Council's directive approved July 28, 2020, to continue virtual meetings through September 30, 2020, this meeting will not be conducted in-person and will have telephonic and virtual access for the public to attend.

 

The City Council meeting can be heard by dialing 253-215-8782 or through Zoom at www.zoom.us/j/89027150863 and entering the meeting ID 890 2715 0863, when prompted.

 

How to Provide Oral Comments

Oral comments can be made at the City Council meeting. Sign up to speak by clicking the ‘Raise Hand’ button at the bottom of the Zoom window or press *9 on your phone.

 

How to Provide Written Comments

Written comments are highly encouraged. To submit a comment:

• E-mail: cityclerk@cityoftacoma.org
• Mail: City Clerk’s Office, 733 Market Street, Room 11, Tacoma, WA 98402

Tentative Schedule for City Council Consideration

• October 6: City Council Study Session

• October 13: First Reading of Ordinance 

• October 20: Final Reading of Ordinance

Summary of the Ordinance

The City Council, on November 21, 2017, passed Amended Ordinance No. 28470, establishing interim regulations for the Tideflats and other heavy industrial zoning districts. The Interim Regulations do the following:

1. Expand public notification for heavy industrial uses Citywide that require a SEPA determination or discretionary permit;

1. Place a pause on the development of certain new non-industrial uses within the Port of Tacoma Manufacturing and Industrial Center;
2. Place a pause on new residential development along the Northeast Tacoma shoreline as well as platting and subdivision of land on the slopes along Marine View Drive; and
3. Place a pause on the development of certain new heavy industrial uses Citywide.

Since the initial adoption of the Interim Regulations in 2017, the Council has taken the following actions to extend the ordinance:

• November 13, 2018: Ordinance No. 28542 – six-month extension
• May 21, 2019: Ordinance No. 28583 – six-month extension
• November 12, 2019: Ordinance No. 28619 – six-month extension
• May 19, 2020: Ordinance No. 28671 – six-month extension

The current ordinance is set to expire on December 2, 2020.

 

Six-month Extension Approved May 19, 2020

On May 19, 2020 the City Council approved Ordinance No. 28671, extending the Tideflats Interim Regulations for an additional six-months, without modification. 

 

Six-month Extension Approved Nov. 12, 2019

On November 12, 2019, the City Council approved Ordinance No. 28619, extending the Tideflats Interim Regulations for an additional six-months, without modification. 

• Ordinance No. 28619
• Tideflats Report November 7, 2019

Six-month Extension Approved May 21, 2019

 

On May 21, 2019, the City Council approved a six-month extension of the Tideflats Interim Regulations. 

• Ordinance No. 28583
• Public Hearing Notice

 

Six-month Extension Approved November 13, 2018

 

The six-month extension of the Tideflats Interim Regulations was approved without modification on November 13, 2018. 

• Ordinance No. 28542

On October 30, 2018, the City Council conducted the First Reading of Ordinance No. 28542, which would extend the Interim Regulations for six-months. In addition, a Substitute Ordinance was introduced that would modify the Interim Regulations in the following way: 

• Apply the interim regulations to the existing industrial and non-industrial uses identified in the ordinance, and 
• Require a conditional use permit for expansion of said existing uses when the proposed expansion would require a SEPA Review under Tacoma Municipal Code 13.12. 

The Ordinance was held over for Final Reading on November 13, 2018. The Substitute Ordinance was introduced but not voted on. The Substitute Ordinance will be considered at Final Reading. Public comment will be accepted on this agenda item. The proposed substitute is provided below: 

Substitute Ordinance 

 

Public Hearing

The City Council conducted a public hearing on October 23, 2018 on the proposed extension of the Tideflats Interim Regulations. More than 60 people testified at the hearing. 

Read the Weekly Report summarizing the public testimony. 
Watch the public hearing. 

Read the Public Hearing Notice.

 

Initial City Council Adoption of the Interim Regulations

On November 21, 2017, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 28470. The Final Ordinance approved by Council includes several amendments to the Planning Commission's Recommendation. These are summarized below. 

 

Amended Ordinance No. 28470

Frequently Asked Questions

 

At First Reading of Ordinance on November 14, 2017, the Council approved four motions amending the proposed Interim Regulations. These amendments were included in the Final Ordinance and approved by Council on November 21: 

1. The initial duration of the Interim Regulations was extended from six months to one year.
2. Smelters were added to the list of uses restricted under the Interim Regulations.
3. The uses subject to Interim Regulations were clarified as applying only to primary uses (business activities), and not to secondary uses (related support activities).
4. Existing uses were removed from the scope of the interim regulations.

First Reading of Ordinance

On November 14, 2017, the City Council considered the following Ordinance and Exhibits as recommended by the City of Tacoma Planning Commission: 

• Ordinance No. 28470

Additional materials were provided to Council in preparation for First Reading, including: 

• November 7, 2017 Study Session Presentation
• City Manager's Weekly Report, November 2, 2017 (with FAQ on the Planning Commission recommendation)
• City Manager's Weekly Report, October 11, 2017 (with Planning Commission Recommendation and Supplemental Information)

City Council Public Hearing - October 17, 2017 

On October 17, the City Council conducted a public hearing at the Pantages Theater on the Planning Commission's recommendation for the Tideflats Interim Regulations. Those wishing to provide written comments may submit them to the City Clerk’s Office at cityclerk@cityoftacoma.org or 733 Market Street, Room 11, Tacoma, WA 98402.  

• City Council Public Hearing Notice
• Record of Public Comments

Planning Commission Recommendation: 

• Findings and Recommendations Report (full book) 
• Letter of Recommendation
• Findings and Recommendations
• Exhibit A: Tideflats Interim Regulations

Planning Commission Review

October 4, 2017

• Agenda Packet
• Presentation

September 20, 2017

• Agenda Packet
• Presentation

September 13, 2017 - Planning Commission Public Hearing

On August 16, the Planning Commission released draft Tideflats Interim Regulations for public review and comment and set a public hearing for September 13, 2017 at 6 PM at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center, Exhibition Hall A. Public comments were accepted through September 15, 2017 at 5 PM. 

• Public Hearing Audio (part 1 of 3)
• Public Hearing Audio (part 2 of 3)
• Public Hearing Audio (part 3 of 3)

• Written Comments (as of 5 PM on September 14, 2017)
• Written Comments Part 2 (as of 5 PM on September 15, 2017)

Public Hearing Information

• Public Notice
• Public Review Book (September 13, 2017)
• Presentation
• Posters

Informational Meeting on September 6, 2017

To learn more about the proposed interim regulations, there was an informational meeting on September 6 in City Council Chambers.  

 

Staff Presentation 

 

August 16,2017

The Planning Commission reviewed the following draft materials

 

August 16, 2017 Planning Commission Agenda Packet

Staff Presentation

Written Comments

 

August 2, 2017

The Planning Commission began reviewing draft findings of fact and potential options for interim regulations. 

 

August 2, 2017 Planning Commission Agenda Packet 

Staff Presentation

Written Comments

 

June 21, 2017

The Planning Commission began their deliberations and determined that interim regulations may be warranted. 

 

Planning Commission Agenda Packet

Planning Commission Presentation

 

For more information on the Planning Commission, including meeting times and locations, please visit the Planning Commission web page.