The draft "One Tacoma Plan" demonstrates notable strides in fostering sustainable growth, housing affordability, enhanced transportation, climate resilience, and equitable development. The plan's emphasis on expanding 15-minute neighborhoods, prioritizing mixed-use development, strengthening multimodal transportation, and investing in green infrastructure and carbon sequestration reflects a forward-thinking approach. Furthermore, the plan acknowledges the importance of ensuring that overburdened communities benefit from environmental justice initiatives. However, the plan's potential impact is diminished by a lack of robust enforcement mechanisms and concrete funding commitments, which are crucial for translating these aspirations into tangible outcomes.

A range of compelling factors, highlighting both potential and need, led the City of Tacoma to choose South Tacoma as the third focus area for its Neighborhood Planning Program. This decision was driven by a confluence of factors, all pointing towards the neighborhood's significant potential and pressing needs. At the heart of the decision lies the city's overarching vision, articulated in the One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan. This plan prioritizes the development of livable neighborhood centers, transit-oriented development, and the equitable distribution of resources. South Tacoma, already designated as a neighborhood business district and zoned as a Neighborhood Mixed-Use Center, aligns perfectly with these strategic goals.

Tacoma, a city often overlooked in the shadow of its larger neighbor, Seattle, is undergoing a significant urban transformation. Ordinance No. 28986, a comprehensive zoning overhaul, is at the heart of this revitalization. This ambitious initiative, part of the Home in Tacoma (HIT) Phase 2 project, aims to address pressing challenges such as housing affordability, urban sprawl, and climate change.

The ordinance marks a radical departure from traditional zoning practices, which often prioritize single-family homes and low-density development. By introducing new urban residential (UR) zones and relaxing restrictive development standards, the city is embracing a more flexible, mixed-use approach. These UR zones, categorized by density and development standards, are designed to accommodate a diverse range of housing types, from single-family homes to multi-unit dwellings.