The Gig Harbor Comprehensive Plan Elements

1. Introduction

Provides an overview of the historical and legislative context to comprehensive plans as well as how the plan is implemented. The introduction also includes the regional vision as required under the Growth Management Act.

2. Land Use

Establishes the distribution and location of the uses of land for housing, commerce, industry, recreation, education, public buildings, parks and open space lands. This element includes a statement of population density standards while providing for the protection of public water supplies, drainage, flooding and stormwater facilities.

3. The Harbor

The Harbor element addresses preservation of the harbor area, recognizing concerns about the impact of growth on Gig Harbor’s downtown area while allowing for a vibrant economic sector.  

4. Community Design

Provides goals and policies about how the built environment interacts with the natural environment, protecting Gig Harbor’s identity and beauty while accommodating development.

5. Environment

Addresses the management of resource lands and critical areas, with special consideration to conservation or protection measures necessary to preserve of enhance fisheries.

6. Housing

Includes an inventory of existing housing stock, identifies gaps in available housing types by income, and establishes strategies and policies necessary to meet housing goals established by the state and Pierce County.

7. Economic Development

Provides goals and policies that encourage economic development, by analyzing current employment conditions, establishing priority sites for job creation and increasing local economic opportunities.

8.  Essential Public Facilities

Provides planning for essential public facilities offer important services to the public and are vital for a community. Included are such facilities and uses which are usually considered “difficult to site” such as, but not limited to; airports, state education facilities, state or regional transportation facilities, state and local correction facilities, solid waste handling facilities, in-patient facilities, mental health facilities and group homes. 

 9.  Utilities

Addresses the siting and location of utilities serving their jurisdiction. The section addresses utilities owned and operated by entities other than the City, including electricity, telecommunication, and natural gas.  

 10.  Shoreline Management

Serves to protect and enhance ecological functions of the shoreline by providing detailed development regulations using best available science. Adopts goals and policies as set forth in the Comprehensive Plan and integrates the shoreline management planning process with the comprehensive plan under the Growth Management Act, as feasible, to ensure consistency between the two plans.

 11.  Parks, Recreation, and Open Space

Includes estimates of park and recreation demand for at least a fifteen-year period; an evaluation of facilities and service needs; and an evaluation of intergovernmental coordination opportunities to provide regional approaches for meeting park and recreational demand.

 12.  Transportation

Provides a safe, balanced, and efficient multi-modal transportation system that is consistent with the City’s overall vision and serves anticipated growth. The transportation element sets a framework for creating a transportation network to help Gig Harbor achieve its overall vision.

 13. Capital Facilities

The City and community’s policy plan for the financing of public facilities over the next twenty years and includes a fiscally responsible six-year financing plan for construction of the capital facilities. The capital facilities element specifically evaluates the City’s fiscal capability to provide public facilities necessary to support the other comprehensive plan elements.

 14.  Arts and Culture

Identifies the City's goals and aspirations for inclusion of arts and culture in comprehensive planning. The vision for the City’s arts and cultural future identifies relationships with other City policy, and presenting specific policies and strategies the City may pursue to realize desired outcomes.