Director Larson presented the draft introduction element of Fife’s periodic comprehensive plan update during the Planning Commission meeting on Jan. 6, 2025, saying the section “pulls together a lot of the work that we've been doing over the past 2 years” and explains how the plan meets state requirements.

The introduction element frames the plan’s purpose, summarizes the public engagement process and pulls together goals and policies from individual elements into an overarching policy set. Director Larson told commissioners the introduction will explicitly show consistency with the Growth Management Act, Vision 2050 and countywide planning policies and will include a tribal land acknowledgement.

Why it matters: the introduction element is the narrative and legal framing that ties the comp plan’s technical elements together and is used as guidance for council decisions, permitting and capital investments. Director Larson said, “This plan won't just sit on a shelf. It will be implemented … by a variety of specific actions,” and listed follow-on work that will rely on the plan’s policies.

Key details provided by staff: the plan uses a citywide 20-year growth forecast of 4,325 housing units with an increase of 1,784 units; staff broke that growth into income bands, including 541 units for households at 0–30% area median income and 331 units for households at 30–50% AMI. Director Larson and staff said 311 units are identified for permanent supportive housing capacity under state law requirements referenced in the update.

Staff also identified other implementation timelines: a shoreline master program update planned to start in 2027 and conclude in 2029; an economic development action plan as a prioritized follow-up; and a 2029 progress implementation report required by the Growth Management Act as a five-year check-in on whether assumptions and trends used in the update remain accurate.

Commissioners asked how concurrent reviews could affect the introduction. Chair Waldner asked whether comments on the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the City Center sub-area (due Jan. 13, 2025) would change the introduction. Director Larson said comments to the City Center draft EIS could alter the City Center element where alternatives affect population and employment ratios, but that most comment letters received so far had not been “substantive in nature.” He said the two city-center numbers shown in the introduction will be replaced by the final preferred alternative once the commission and council select it.

Commissioner Dominique asked how the plan addresses zoning for permanent supportive housing given the increase in the capacity figure. Director Larson responded that state law (House Bill 1220, as referenced by staff) requires permanent supportive housing be permitted in zones that allow multifamily or hotel/motel uses and that staff has adjusted zones accordingly; he emphasized the number reflects theoretical capacity and that the 2029 progress report will test whether capacity has produced construction or whether additional policy steps are needed.

On land-use specifics, staff said the planning area includes the city plus the urban growth area around Fife Heights; the introduction lists growth targets and explains how they will be applied across land use, transportation, housing and economic development elements. Director Larson reiterated that functional system plans (water, sewer, stormwater, parks) and council strategic plans will implement the comp plan at shorter intervals.

Looking ahead, staff plans to deliver final documents to the state and the Puget Sound Regional Council for checklist review, present recommended preferred alternatives to the commission in February, hold public hearings in March, and return in April with recommendations for council on the comprehensive plan, the City Center planned action ordinance, and related development regulations.

The commission did not take a final vote on the introduction element on Jan. 6; staff asked commissioners for input and signaled it will return with finalized language once the City Center preferred alternative is selected.