Fife: 2024-44 Comprehensive Plan Update
The City of Fife is undertaking a significant update to its Comprehensive Plan, known as the 2024-44 Comprehensive Plan, to replace the existing document and align with state, regional, and county mandates, notably the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) and Puget Sound Regional Council's (PSRC) Vision 2050. This comprehensive revision, spanning two and a half years, is driven by public input and evolving legislative requirements, particularly concerning affordable housing and climate change.
A key component of this update involves amendments to the Fife Municipal Code to ensure consistency with the new plan and address state directives. The introduction of the City Center North (CCN) zoning designation marks a significant shift towards transit-oriented development (TOD) around the future Sound Transit station. This new zone aims to implement the City Center Element, with potential refinements following public feedback and further alignment with Sound Transit’s final designs. Conversely, the City Center South (CCS) zone mirrors the existing Community Mixed Use (CMU) zone, intending to perpetuate the current development pattern along 20th Street.
The proposed amendments extend to the Fife Zoning Map, reflecting a balance between maintaining the city’s small-town character and accommodating necessary growth. These rezoning efforts are informed by a middle housing analysis, identifying areas for lower-density residential infill, and a racially disparate impacts analysis, highlighting potential displacement risks. The City Center boundary will see the introduction of the CCN and CCS zones to foster compact, transit-oriented development.
Furthermore, the adoption of the City Center Planned Action Ordinance (PAO) is crucial for implementing mitigation measures and performance standards derived from the Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This ordinance streamlines development approvals by allowing projects that meet or exceed PAO standards to utilize the existing EIS, avoiding individual environmental analyses. A monitoring and review mechanism, scheduled every five years, will ensure development remains within the EIS's analyzed impact parameters.
Public engagement has been a cornerstone of this update, featuring surveys, neighborhood meetings, focus groups, open houses, and extensive communication through newsletters, social media, and direct mail. The city is also coordinating with state and regional bodies, expecting feedback in mid-March, which may necessitate further amendments. The City Council is scheduled to review and potentially adopt the plan through a series of meetings from March to June 2024, with additional code refinements planned for 2025. These future amendments will address specific areas such as City Center design standards, high-capacity transit facility design, impact fees, and multifamily tax exemptions. The overarching goal is to ensure Fife’s development aligns with regional growth objectives while preserving its unique character and addressing contemporary challenges like affordable housing and climate resilience.