Gig Harbor staff present comprehensive‑plan revisions; council narrows language and schedules public hearing

Planning staff reviewed proposed revisions to the city comprehensive plan and the associated technical appendices, explained where staff supports planning commission recommendations and where council direction differs, and described next steps toward public hearing and adoption.

Staff said the revisions include additions on local history (references to Croatian and Scandinavian communities while retaining Puyallup Tribe language provided in consultation), clarifications on affordable housing preferences for residents displaced locally, creation of a policy to identify funding opportunities for income‑restricted housing, and several editorial and policy‑wording changes suggested by council (for example, replacing or removing words such as "must," "preferentially," and "ensure" in some policy statements to reflect council intent and legal context). Staff summarized changes across multiple plan elements including arts and culture, housing, parks and recreation, and transportation.

On land‑use density policy, council debated whether to keep the term "preferentially" or to simplify the phrasing; staff and council agreed to simplify the policy to read in effect as a direction to locate higher residential density near existing services (transit, regional parks, commercial centers and other public amenities) rather than creating a mandatory requirement that could be interpreted as a guarantee.

Councilmember discussion touched on state guidance. Staff and council referenced the 2021 legislative change commonly cited as "House Bill 1220" (transcript reference) and the policy goal that the city "plan for and accommodate" housing; council members noted the distinction between planning obligations in state law and local policy language that could be read as a guarantee.

Transportation policy edits recommended by council member Henderson and supported by staff include explicit references to a Complete Streets plan, a commitment to calibrate traffic modeling, and clarifications about street construction standards and coordination with Pierce County and transit providers. Staff said the transportation technical appendix and revised element will be reorganized so goals/policies remain in the element and technical detail lives in the appendix.

Staff said next steps are to post the revised materials and an action matrix showing council amendments to the planning commission recommendation, publish them at least 14 days before the March 24 first reading, hold the public hearing at that meeting, and then either begin deliberations or schedule second reading on April 14. Council did not take a formal vote on plan adoption at the study session; staff will bring the ordinance and supporting materials forward for formal readings and public testimony.

Staff also reported continued negotiations with Pierce County on an interlocal agreement for urban growth areas; staff said discussions were positive and that further meetings are planned next month.

What happens next: council directed staff to prepare the revised documents and action matrix for a March 24 first reading and public hearing, and to return with development‑regulation options where specific policy implementation requires code changes.