The Tacoma City Council changed the city’s housing development strategy by unanimously passing the Home in Tacoma zoning and standards package. By creating Urban Residential zones, these new policies, which are intended to address concerns of affordability and sustainability, should increase the variety of residences that are available in the city. These zones will allow developers to build townhomes, multifamily apartments, and the much-discussed accessory dwelling units, which could help Tacoma meet its increasing housing needs. Mayor Victoria Woodards stated, “The historic passage of the Home in Tacoma initiative is a transformative step for our city,” according to the City of Tacoma.
The council has worked to make sure the package takes into account a lot of community comments, and it is anticipated to formally go into effect by February 2025. By changing specific construction requirements, it seeks to expedite development and strategically boost housing unit density. Tacoma’s tree canopy has also been the subject of an attempt to achieve equilibrium; new projects will involve planting trees in order to complement municipal initiatives to maintain green areas. However, according to the City of Tacoma, Deputy Mayor John Hines told the local media, “We need to make sure that the families who have lived here for generations are able to stay here if they want to do so in order to truly ensure that the city moves in the right direction.”
From December 1 to January 31, 2025, Tacoma’s Planning and Development Services Department will begin a pre-development pilot program to help navigate the revised zoning restrictions. For developers who quickly modify their products to comply with the new rules, this will provide direction and encouragement. The City of Tacoma website offers interactive maps, documentation, and details about the zoning package.
The council has mainly given positive feedback, with members emphasizing the initiative’s transformative potential. According to the City of Tacoma, I am most proud of the work done to balance development and growth with important community assets like trees. Sarah Rumbaugh, a member of the District 2 Council, highlighted the environmental sides of the issue. However, there are still issues, especially with regard to the true affordability of new housing and the effects of higher densities on the environment. Council Member Jamika Scott of District 3 voiced her concerns to local media, saying, “I have concerns that Home in Tacoma prioritizes density over trees, and we cannot have both a robust tree canopy and greater housing density.” She promised to keep a careful eye on its execution to make sure the neighborhood really gains from it.
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