Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Town Center Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
University Place council adopts Town Center Business District Plan to preserve regional growth designation
Summary
The University Place City Council unanimously adopted the Town Center Business District Plan on June 15, 2026, a step officials said will help the city retain its regional growth center designation and improve competitiveness for federal and regional infrastructure grants.
The University Place City Council voted 6-0 on June 15 to adopt the Town Center Business District Plan, the final district plan in the city's regional growth center strategy.
The plan, presented by Kevin Brisky of the Community and Economic Development Department, "is the last of the 3 district plans within the regional growth center," Brisky told the council, and he said adoption helps the city maintain its regional growth center designation with the Puget Sound Regional Council — a status that, officials said, strengthens the city's position for competitive infrastructure grants.
Brisky told the council the plan was developed over roughly 18 months with multiple public outreach events and three planning-commission meetings; the commission made a unanimous recommendation for adoption after a Dec. 17 public hearing. He said the council had discussed the draft in two recent study sessions and that staff adjusted language to explicitly reference public safety service providers following council feedback.
After a brief pause for public comment and no further council discussion, Mayor Stan Fleming directed the deputy clerk to call the roll. The vote was recorded as six ayes, zero nays, and Mayor Fleming declared the motion passed.
Why it matters: maintaining the regional growth center designation preserves eligibility for certain federal and Puget Sound Regional Council programs officials tied to sidewalks, pedestrian improvements and other corridor infrastructure projects that the city seeks to fund. During the presentation Brisky noted that the plan supports the city's competitive posture for such grants.
What comes next: Council and staff will incorporate the adopted plan into implementation and pursue associated grant opportunities tied to corridor improvements and pedestrian infrastructure, according to Brisky and council remarks.
The resolution adopting the plan was approved at the meeting and will be filed with city records.
