Platting code update Annual Amendment #2013-08

1. Platting code updateAnnual Amendment #2013-08 City of Tacoma Planning Commission - December 5, 2012

2. Proposed Amendments - Overview • Primary purpose of this application is to increase the maximum number of lots under a short plat from 4 to 9 lots, consistent with RCW 58.17.020. • LOS will be reduced from 90 days to 30 days • Other timely improvements: • 400-foot public notice for 5-9 lot short plats; • Final Short Plat (Off-Site/On-Site Improvements); • Complete Streets, multi-modal connectivity and pedestrian-scale street lighting; • Remove the in-lieu recreation/open space fee; and • Minor updates, changes and corrections.

3. Types of Land Divisions • Under the current TMC: • Short Plats (4 lots or fewer) - 30-day LOS, and no public notice. No Final Short Plat. • Administrative Plats (5-9 lots) - 90-day LOS, 400-foot public notice, and may require a public hearing. Final Plat and legislative action by the City Council. • Plats (10 or more lots) - 90-day LOS, 400-foot public notice, and public hearing required. Final Plat and legislative action by the City Council.

4. Proposed Short Plat • May contain 9 or fewer lots • 30-day Level of Service • 400-foot public notice for 5-9 lot short plats • Short Plat decision appealable to the Hearing Examiner • Final Short Plat • Off-Site/On-Site Improvements required to be installed or bonded for prior to recording the Final Short Plat

5. Improvements - Now and Proposed • Off-Site/On-Site Improvements – Installation not required prior to recording a short plat. • Makes future development challenging as most lots are sold individually with no guaranteed funding for improvements. • Proposed “Final Short Plat” would require improvements to be installed or bonded for - as is already required for Administrative Plats and Plats. • Provides certainty to the buyer, the neighborhood and the City that improvements will be installed and in a consistent manner.

6. Complete Streets • Complete Streets incorporate low-impact development strategies and are designed to enable safe and convenient access and travel for all users, which include pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and people of all ages and abilities. • Currently, there is an internal process for public projects to be reviewed for complete streets amenities. • The Platting Code is an opportunity for the Complete Streets guidelines to be evaluated with private development and required when appropriate.

7. Benchmarking – Local Jurisdictions

8. Street Lighting and Multi-Modal Connectivity • Minor changes to update existing street lighting section to include pedestrian-scale lighting for all plats, as appropriate. • Minor changes made to require that applicants demonstrate how connectivity for pedestrians, vehicles, and bicycles will be achieved within the subdivision and with the surrounding neighborhood, as appropriate.

9. Minor changes, updates, corrections Minor revisions include: • Update text to current industry standards, remove references to obsolete documents, and replace dated references to departments and decision-makers; and • Correct minor technical and scrivener errors.

10. Discussion – Questions/Comments?

11. Next Steps Planning Commission Direction: • Authorize for public review with a tentative public hearing date of March 20, 2013; or • Direct staff to return in early 2013 with public outreach feedback, illustrative examples, and/or response to questions/clarifications from today.