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Community development lays out multi‑year work plan: comp plan follow‑ups, critical‑areas update and targeted subarea work
Summary
Gig Harbor — Community Development Director Eric Baker presented a multi‑year work plan at the council retreat that combines state‑required updates and locally prioritized projects, and asked for staff support to execute the schedule.
Gig Harbor — Community Development Director Eric Baker told the council Feb. 28 that the department will carry a packed multi‑year work plan tied to the recently revised comprehensive plan. Key near‑term items include: a zoning‑map update to align land‑use designations with zoning; a state‑required critical‑areas ordinance update (best‑available science review); focused development‑code updates (including accessory dwelling units and land‑use provisions for the Pedestrian/Commercial District); a climate‑element vulnerability assessment; and targeted subarea work such as a Judson commercial area plan and a downtown parking study.
Baker said some actions are driven by state and regional deadlines (critical areas, growth‑management reporting and the climate element), and others are local priorities. He recommended spreading work over quarters and cautioned that the sequencing must account for staff capacity. Baker asked for the council’s continued support to fill three planning positions so the department can meet statutory deadlines and complete major projects without overburdening existing staff.
Highlights from staff briefing
- Critical areas: The city must compare its ordinance against “best available science.” Baker proposed a gap analysis and consultant support (an example cost estimate cited: about $45,000 for a consultant gap study) and said a full update commonly takes 12–18 months. The council heard that some buffers or other protections could change property‑level development rights, so extensive outreach would be part of any update. - Development regulations: Baker said ADU changes mandated by state law are nearly ready and expected before summer; other code changes (parking, zoning for the PCD, sign and landscaping regulations) will follow in phases. - Judson Subarea and downtown parking: The council funded a Judson subarea plan and a downtown parking study to inform zoning, expected environmental review and potential infrastructure choices. Baker recommended creating stakeholder and steering committees and flagged that expanded outreach and environmental review can raise project costs. - Climate element: A grant‑funded vulnerability assessment and draft climate element will be presented to council in mid‑2025; outcomes will feed infrastructure and project priorities.
Outcome and next steps
Council directed staff to proceed with finalizing ADU changes and to return with refined timelines and cost estimates for the critical‑areas gap analysis, parking study and Judson subarea plan. Baker and the mayor noted HR was actively recruiting planning staff and that hires would be crucial to meeting the schedule.
Why it matters
The work program bundles state‑mandated updates with local priorities (housing regulation, downtown parking and subarea planning). Changes to critical‑areas rules and development standards can affect property owners, developers and timelines for local projects; councilors asked for careful public outreach and staged implementation.
Ending
Staff will return with detailed scopes, budgets and draft outreach plans for each major item; council asked for early engagement with affected property owners where zoning or environmental rules may change.
