Transcript Platting code update

PLATTING CODE UPDATE
ANNUAL AMENDMENT #2013-08
City of Tacoma Planning Commission - December 5, 2012
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.
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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 pedestrianscale street lighting;
 Remove the in-lieu recreation/open space fee; and
 Minor updates, changes and corrections.
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Types of Land Divisions
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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.
Proposed Short Plat
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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
Improvements - Now and Proposed

Off-Site/On-Site Improvements – Installation not
required prior to recording a short plat.
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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.
Complete Streets
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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.
Benchmarking – Local Jurisdictions
Street Lighting and Multi-Modal
Connectivity
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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.
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 decisionmakers; and

Correct minor technical and scrivener errors.
Discussion – Questions/Comments?
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.