The City of Lakewood’s Long-Range Planning and Special Projects division creates and updates Lakewood’s Comprehensive Plan. They also handle 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
Long-Range & Special Projects 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.
About Long-Range Planning
The Long-Range 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, 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;
- Works with the Pierce County Continuum of Care and reviews Pierce County Human Services contracts.
The City of Lakewood Comprehensive Plan 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.
Announcements
Lakewood has begun work on a state law-required update of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations known as the Growth Management Act (GMA) Periodic Review. This update is required to be completed by December 31, 2024. The purpose of the review is to ensure that the Comprehensive Plan is internally consistent and also complies with state law and regional planning policies.
The Periodic Update Cycle is a lengthy process that will take over 2 years to complete. Public involvement is essential to the success of this effort. Click here for more information about the 2024 Periodic Review.
The City Council adopted the 2022 Comprehensive Plan amendment docket on Monday, August 1 through Ordinance 772. The amendments went into effect on September 1, 2022.
View Ordinance 772 as presented to Council for adoption here.
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 Neighborhood Plan (TNP) was adopted as a City Subarea Plan in 2009. The plan includes the six key planning initiatives from Lakewood’s Vision for Tillicum document. In 2011, . 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
- Comprehensive Plan
- Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map
- 2011 Tillicum Neighborhood Plan
- 2018 Downtown Subarea Plan
- Downtown Subarea Development Regulations (LMC Title 18B)
- Downtown Subarea Plan Planned Action Ordinance
- 2021 Lakewood Station District Subarea Plan
- Lakewood Station District Development Regulations (LMC Title 18C)
- Lakewood Station District Subarea SEPA Planned Action
- Lakewood Municipal Code: Land use Development and Zoning ( LMC Title 18A)
- Subdivision Ordinance (see Title 17)
- 2019 Shoreline Master Plan
Comprehensive Plan Amendment Application Forms:
- Comprehensive Plan Map or Zone Amendment
- SEPA Checklist Form
- Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment Application Form
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)