The City of Lakewood’s Long-Range and Strategic Planning division creates and updates Lakewood’s Comprehensive Plan. It also drafts updates to land use development regulations as mandated by the state through the Growth Management Act, the Shoreline Management Act, the State Environmental Policy Act, or as directed by the Lakewood City Council.
Tiffany Speir
Planning Division Manager
6000 Main St SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
(253) 983-7702
Email: TSpeir
To email Tiffany Speir add her email handle before @cityoflakewood.us
Phones & Email:
Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Announcements
January 1, 2025: New Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations are in effect that includes 2024 Periodic Review Package. For more details on the process used to adopt these new documents, please go to https://cityoflakewood.us/24periodicreview/
The Planning Commission will hold several study sessions on the 9 proposed zoning, policy, and regulatory amendments in the docket, summarized below:
2025-01 “Co-Living Housing” Amendments for consistency with ESHB 1998
2025-02 Updates to Comprehensive Plan Capital Facilities Element, Parks Element, and Utilities Element for consistency with E2SHB 1181 (Climate Change & Resiliency)
2025-03 Updates to Lakewood Development Regulations for Middle Housing for consistency with E2SHB 1110
2025-04 Regulatory amendments for consistency with SB 5792 “Concerning the definition of multiunit residential buildings”
2025-05 Regulatory amendments regarding residential parking for
consistency with SSB 6015
2025-06 Technical Updates to the Municipal Code regarding Civic Uses
2025-07 Adoption of 2025-2029 Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Plan
2025-08 Private request for parcel 0319061001 to be redesignated/rezoned from exclusively Air Corridor (AC) / Air Corridor 1 (AC1) to “split zoning” of AC / AC1 and Industrial (I) / Industrial 1 (I1).
2025-09 Review, and if needed, amend, the Lakewood Regional Growth Center (RGC) and Downtown Subarea Plan, Regulations, and Planned Action for consistency with PSRC’s Regional Centers Framework Requirements
Questions? Send them to [email protected]
See data specific to Lakewood’s communities regarding overall equity, accessibility, education, economy, livability, and environment by using the City of Lakewood Equity Index tool.
Watch the discussion about the proposed buffers from the June 26th Planning Commission meeting here.
About Long Range and Strategic Planning
The Long Range and Strategic Planning Division:
- Provides support to the Planning Commission and the City Council for decisions or recommendations on various plans, policies, and development regulations;
- Develops and maintains the Comprehensive Plan (PDF), along with various plans and standards for community development, preservation, and disaster recovery;
- Facilitates the City’s participation in regional planning by working with the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC), the Pierce County Regional Council (PCRC), and the Pierce County Growth Management Coordination Committee (GMCC);
- Encourages economic development, environmental protection, affordable housing for all income levels, and efficient transportation, and coordination with other local governments;
- Performs review of potential land annexations;
- Represents Lakewood on the Tacoma-Lakewood-Pierce County Continuum of Care and reviews Pierce County Human Services contracts and funding applications.
The division also administers strategic planning and special projects, including the Lakewood Neighborhood Coordination program (see below), the Lakewood American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) program, maintenance of the Lakewood Equity Index Map, the establishment of an Urban Forestry program in 2024 and beyond, the Climate Change Implementation Plan, US Census outreach, representation of the City on external boards and commissions, and more.
Neighborhood Connections Program
In 2023, the City Council approved the creation of the Neighborhood Connections-Program Coordinator role as an essential tool to creating an improved line of communication with the City for community members and businesses. The primary objective is to facilitate open discussions on concerns and issues extending beyond public safety, emphasizing the establishment of robust relationships with local organizations. The position aims to bolster engagement in local city government, fostering a sense of community involvement and responsibility.
The Neighborhood Coordinator’s role is to drive positive transformation within neighborhoods and tackle local community challenges. The position’s focus is on enhancing safety and overall quality of life across the city, promoting community understanding of City processes, facilitating informed communication between the City, residents, and businesses, and ensuring government transparency for everyone in Lakewood.
View more about Lakewood’s Neighborhood Connections initiative here. If you have a question or would like to invite him to one of your meetings, contact Chris Davis, Lakewood’s Neighborhood Coordinator, at [email protected]
Comprehensive Plan and Subarea Plans
Comprehensive Plan
The City of Lakewood Comprehensive Plan (PDF) guides the City’s overall strategy for growth and development over the next 20 years. It sets the goals and policies for items such as land use, economic development, housing, transportation, and the environment.
Subarea Plans
Lakewood’s Downtown Subarea Plan includes the Towne Center, Colonial, and East Commercial Districts. The study area is over 300 acres. The Downtown Subarea Plan will build up past planning efforts and describe a vision, land use, design, gathering places, and action strategies for Lakewood’s central business district or “Downtown”.
The Lakewood Station District Subarea Plan includes the Lakewood Sounder Station and the surrounding area. As the City plans for an additional 11,500 residents by 2030, new housing in the area near Lakewood Station will help meet this growth target as well as:
- Provide additional affordable housing for current and future residents
- Add businesses and employment opportunities
- Maximize access to transit and use of the Sounder Station
- Improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists
- Prevent the displacement of current residents when redevelopment occurs
- Complement planning in the Downtown area
The Tillicum-Woodbrook Subarea Plan (TWSP) was adopted in 2024 and replaced the Tillicum Neighborhood Plan.
The first Tillicum Neighborhood Plan (TNP) was adopted as a Lakewood Subarea Plan in 2009. The plan included the six key planning initiatives from Lakewood’s Vision for Tillicum document. In 2022, the City adopted an Addendum to the TNP that explains what has been done since 2011 to make the Plan’s vision a reality.
Map of Lakewood’s Subarea Plans
Documents & Resources
Interested in Lakewood development? Follow these useful links to learn about ordinances, planning policies, zoning, and other information that guides development in Lakewood. Visit the Planning & Zoning Maps, Ordinances, and Documents page for more information.
Lakewood Planning Documents and Resources
- Comprehensive Plan effective 1/1/25 (PDF)
- Comprehensive Plan Background Appendix effective 1/1/25 (PDF)
- Comprehensive Plan Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement effective 1/1/25 (PDF)
- Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map effective 1/1/25 (PDF)
- Zoning Map effective 1/1/25 (PDF)
- 2024 Tillicum Neighborhood Plan (PDF)
- 2018 Downtown Subarea Plan with updated 2025 Boundary (PDF)
- Downtown Subarea Development Regulations (LMC Title 18B)
- Downtown Subarea Plan Planned Action Ordinance (PDF)
- 2021 Lakewood Station District Subarea Plan as updated in 2025 (PDF)
- Lakewood Station District Development Regulations (LMC Title 18C)
- Lakewood Station District Subarea SEPA Planned Action (PDF)
- Lakewood Municipal Code: Land use Development and Zoning ( LMC Title 18A)
- Subdivision Ordinance (see Title 17)
- 2019 Shoreline Master Plan (PDF)
- 2019 Shoreline Restoration Plan (PDF)
- 2010 Shoreline Characterization Report (PDF.)
- 2015 Comprehensive Plan Determination of Nonsignificance and SEPA Checklist (PDF)
- 2000 Comprehensive Plan Environmental Impact Statement (PDF)
- 2000 Lakewood Comprehensive Plan Background Report (PDF)
Comprehensive Plan Amendment Application Forms:
- Comprehensive Plan Map or Zone Amendment (PDF)
- SEPA Checklist Form (PDF)
- Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment Application Form (PDF)
Regional Planning Documents
- Pierce County Countywide Planning Policies
- Puget Sound Regional Council Multicounty Planning Policies: VISION 2050
State Law Governing Land Use Planning
- Growth Management Act (GMA)
- Shoreline Management Act (SMA)
- State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)