Planning the Port-Industrial Area's Future

At this month's Manufacturers-Industries-Maritime (M-I-M) meeting, two major planning documents underway were featured. Having completed their draft phases, requiring complementary and collaborative efforts by the Port of Tacoma and the City of Tacoma, these land use and transportation plans identify policies and action strategies to support capital improvements, attract private investments and encourage economic growth.

Kell McAboy, Planning Manager, Port of Tacoma, explained the Port of Tacoma’s land use and transportation planning that will identify policies and recommendations to support capital improvements, attract private investments and encourage economic growth.

The land use and transportation plan will build on the goals and initiatives in its Strategic Plan by providing information, policies and recommendations to support capital improvements, attract private investments and encourage economic growth.

The plan will be a policy-based document that identifies and prioritizes actions needed to achieve the Port's goals. It will act as a form of communication for decision makers and be designed to guide development over a 10 to 20 year planning horizon.

The area of focus for the plan is the Port of Tacoma Manufacturing Industrial Center (MIC) as designated by the Puget Sound Regional Council. Here is the link to the DRAFT Plan.

The City of Tacoma enjoys the economic contributions of the Port of Tacoma. 

Ian Munce, Special Assistant to the Director of Planning & Development Services, City of Tacoma explained the City of Tacoma’s collaboration with the Port of Tacoma, in preparing a Container Port Element (CPE).

In order to protect the unique and critical infrastructure and industrial node of our state’s intermodal ports, in 2009, the Washington State Legislature amended the Growth Management Act (GMA) to include a requirement for a Container Port Element (CPE) in the GMA Comprehensive Plan for cities that contain a marine container port with annual operating revenues in excess of $60 million.

The legislative intent is “… to ensure that local land use decisions are made in consideration of the long-term and widespread economic contribution of our international container ports and related industrial lands and transportation systems and to ensure that container ports continue to function effectively alongside vibrant city waterfronts.” RCW 36.70A.085

Accordingly, the City of Tacoma, in collaboration with the Port of Tacoma, has prepared a Container Port Element for public review. Consistent with state requirements, the element provides policy guidance to achieve the following:

•         Protection of core areas of container port and port-related industrial areas within the City

•         Efficient access to the core area through freight corridors within the city limits

•         Protection against potential land use conflicts along the edge of the core area

•         Identification of key transportation corridor improvements.

The text of the Proposed CPE, together with background information, can be found on the City Website. To access the webpage for the CPE visit the Planning Services Division’s homepage and click on “Container Port Element”, or go directly to the CPE.