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
9/16/24: City Council Adopts 2024 Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulation Periodic Review Package. Effective date = January 1, 2025.
For more details, please go to https://cityoflakewood.us/24periodicreview/
The Planning Commission held one public hearing on the draft 2025 Comprehensive Plan docket list on September 18 and will hold a second hearing on October 2. The Commission will take action on the draft docket on October 2 and then the City Council will begin its review on October 28, 2024. Current potential docket items include: middle housing regulations; co-living housing regulations; Capital Facilities, Parks, and Utilities Element updates to comply with HB 1181; residential uses in commercial buildings zoning/regulations (tentative); consideration of expansion of Station District Subarea boundaries (tentative); and consideration of directing the drafting of a new subarea plan “District/Area North of Steilacoom Blvd and West of South Tacoma Way” (tentative.)
Questions? Send them to [email protected]
The City is moving to readopt regulations governing manufactured home parks and camping and recreational vehicle parks that were unintentionally removed from code in 2019. The Planning Commission will discuss, hold a public hearing, and act on the amendments to Title 18A on October 2, 2024.
Lakewood is adopting changes to its regulations to ensure compliance with permit timelines as required under SB 5290. These amendments were reviewed by the Planning Commission on September 4, 2024. The Commission’s public hearing was held September 18.
The rules and buffer widths for Remodeling and New Construction will be INCREASING around: 1) Boyles Lake, Lost Lake, Carp Lake, Emerson Lake, Flett Creek, Ponce de Leon Creek, and other unnamed fish-bearing streams (called “Type F” streams) in the City; and 2) the Tributaries for Waughop Lake, Lost Lake, Gravelly Lake, Chambers Creek, Clover Creek, and other unnamed non-fishbearing streams (called “Type Np/Ns” and “Type X” waters).
The buffers for remodeling and new development are STAYING THE SAME around: American Lake, Gravelly Lake, Lake Louise, Steilacoom Lake, Waughop Lake, Clover Creek and Chambers Creek.
Watch the discussion about the proposed buffers from the June 26th Planning Commission meeting here.
You can watch and access the handouts from the series of meetings Lakewood has held about the upcoming changes to what property owners can build in residential lots. Click here and scroll to Announcements for the links.
Implementing the state laws that passed in Spring 2023 regarding allowing more ADUs and housing units on residential lots are 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 go to the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Review page.
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.
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 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.
The Tillicum Neighborhood Plan is being replaced with the Tillicum-Woodbrook Subarea Plan (TWSP) as part of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Review – the City Council will hold public hearings on August 19 and September 3, and is scheduled to take action on the whole periodic review on September 16. View the 2024 draft TWSP here.
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
- 2024 Periodic Review of Lakewood Comprehensive Plan and Regulations
- Comprehensive Plan (PDF)
- Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map (PDF)
- 2011 Tillicum Neighborhood Plan (PDF)
- 2018 Downtown Subarea Plan (PDF)
- Downtown Subarea Development Regulations (LMC Title 18B)
- Downtown Subarea Plan Planned Action Ordinance (PDF)
- 2021 Lakewood Station District Subarea Plan (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)