Welcome to the Lakewood 2024 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Review website. Check back here regularly for the latest information, events, and meetings for the process.
Announcements
On November 15, 2023, Lakewood held an Open House about the changes coming to Lakewood’s Housing Rules that are required by state law. You can watch the presentation here. You can view the meeting materials here.
Allowing more ADUs on residential properties: The state laws that passed in 2023 that allow more ADUs and housing units on residential lots will be part of Lakewood’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Review. These changes to what you can develop on your property will not go into effect in Lakewood until December 31, 2024 at the earliest. To keep track of how these new development options are being reviewed by Lakewood, please stay tuned here.
The 2011 Tillicum Neighborhood Plan will be updated as part of 2024 Process.
View the 2023 Lakewood Equity Index Map
Lakewood’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Review Steering Committee met for the first time on February 23, 2023. It will focus its efforts on climate change and housing for the first half of 2023, and then begin to review and provide feedback on other issues in the second half of 2023 into 2024.
*11/1/23: View Tillicum Woodbrook Subarea Plan Steering Committee Meeting #2 here.
For more information, please contact Tiffany Speir, Long Range & Strategic Planning Manager, at [email protected].
The Planning Commission will hear from a series of subject matter experts about the 2024 Periodic Review beginning on September 21, 2022 and continuing into 2023. You can view the Planning Commission meeting materials as they are published here. You can watch the meetings live or after the fact here.
*3/1/23: Housing Needs Assessment; Racially Disparate Impacts; Equity in All Elements. Watch the meeting here.
*9/20/23: Status update on Subarea Plan updates as part of 2024 Periodic Review. Watch meeting here.
The City Council will also hold a series of subject matter experts about the 2024 Periodic Review beginning in 2023 and scheduled into 2024. You can view the meeting materials as they are published here. You can watch the meetings live or after the fact here.
*7/10/23: Housing Needs Assessment, Racially Disparate impacts, and Equity in All Elements in the 2024 Periodic Review. Watch the meeting here.
*9/25/23: Housing Density Changes under new State Bills E2SHB 1110 and EHB 1337; Introduction of Lakewood Equity Index Map. Watch meeting here.
2024 Periodic Review
What is it?
State law requires many cities, including Lakewood, to complete a periodic review of their entire Comprehensive Plan and development regulations, including regulations for critical areas and natural resource lands. Lakewood must complete this review by December 31, 2024, and then future reviews every 10 years after that. City Comprehensive Plans and Regulations must be up-to-date with the requirements of the Growth Management Act to be eligible for grants and loans from certain state infrastructure programs.
What is being reviewed?
Every “element” or chapter of the City’s Comprehensive Plan as well as the development regulation codes that implement them. The City will also be reorganizing the Plan as part of the review to make it more readable.
Comprehensive Plan
Foundation for City Planning
The required elements for Comprehensive Plan are described in state law here. Optional elements are described here.
Comprehensive Plans have a 20-year time horizon. The Plan is intended to shape Lakewood’s operations and growth for the next two decades by including policies, goals, and strategies about:
- Land Use (general distribution, location and extent of the uses of land (e.g., residential, commercial, industrial, parks and open space, public institutional, military))
- Housing (ensuring the vitality and character of established residential neighborhoods; identifying sufficient capacity of land for housing including, but not limited to, government-assisted housing, housing for moderate, low, very low, and extremely low-income households, manufactured housing, multifamily housing, group homes, foster care facilities, emergency housing, emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing, and within an urban growth area boundary, consideration of duplexes, triplexes, and townhomes)
- Capital Facilities (streets, roads, highways, sidewalks, street and road lighting systems, traffic signals, domestic water systems, storm and sanitary sewer systems, parks and recreational facilities, and schools)
- Utilities (including, but not limited to, electrical lines, telecommunication lines, and natural gas lines)
- Transportation (implements, and is consistent with, the land use element; discusses air, water, and ground transportation facilities and services)
Lakewood’s Optional Comprehensive Plan Items
Lakewood has adopted optional elements to its Plan, including:
- Tillicum Subarea Plan (2011)
- Downtown Subarea Plan (2018)
- Lakewood Station District Subarea Plan (2021)
- Energy & Climate Change Element (2021)
Housing Changes
WATCH THE NOVEMBER 15, 2023 OPEN HOUSE ABOUT NEW STATE HOUSING RULES AFFECTING LAKEWOOD HERE. You can see the presentation materials packet here.
Planning for Housing under Washington State Law:
Since 2020, in reaction to the lack of affordable housing, the State Legislature has taken a more active role in setting rules for how cities can plan for housing growth in their boundaries. One of the major focuses in the 2024 Comprehensive Plan review is planning for housing. To understand the basic issues, check out these videos developed by the WA Department of Commerce:
- We Need More Housing
- Housing Washingtonians
- Planning for the Homeless and Lowest Income Bracket
- Middle Housing & Accessory Dwellings in Washington State
- Racially Disparate Impacts
- Quality of Life and Environment
In its Comprehensive Plan, Lakewood must have a Housing Element and Zoning Map ensuring the vitality and character of established residential neighborhoods; identifying sufficient capacity of land for housing including, but not limited to, government-assisted housing, housing for moderate, low, very low, and extremely low-income households, manufactured housing, multifamily housing, group homes, foster care facilities, emergency housing, emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing, and within an urban growth area boundary, consideration of duplexes, triplexes, and townhomes.
In 2024, Lakewood is conducting a full review of its residential areas and other land use zones that allow housing to update them to current state law rules. This means reviewing where to allow for:
- accessory dwelling units,
- more than one housing unit per lot,
- more housing units per acre, and
- allowing more than single-family housing in traditionally single-family neighborhoods
FAQs
Who decides the 2024 Periodic Review is done?
- The City Council will take action to adopt any updates to Lakewood’s Comprehensive Plan and development regulations before December 31, 2024. In addition, the WA State Department of Commerce and Puget Sound Regional Council will be involved in reviews of the Plan and regulations, and may require additional changes before the process is complete.
How can I get involved in the Periodic Review?
- Lakewood needs your input! The City will be reviewing many topics as part of this review and needs the expertise and feedback of residents, businesses and organizations to make this Plan review the best it can be. Please sign up for updates and leave your comments below, and thank you!
Where can I find out more?
- This page and www.lakewoodwaspeaks.org will be the best place to watch for more information and updates about the 2024 Periodic Review. For specific questions you can find answers to here, please contact Tiffany Speir, Long Range & Strategic Planning Manager, at [email protected]
Sign up for updates
Fill out the form below with your email and contact information to receive updates from the city as they are available through the periodic review process.