New projected population will dictate development, zoning

City approves 10,500 figure for 2030 population allocation

Nate Hulings

of the Gateway

Down-zoning may be necessary in order for the City of Gig Harbor to reach its 2030 population allocation goal.

The city set its projected mark at 10,500 people during the city council meeting Sept. 28, hoping to plan for future development. The move will help dictate zoning and land use policies, senior planner Jennifer Kester said.

Kester and Tom Dolan, the city’s planning director, settled on the figure.

“There will have to be change in reduction of densities or change in zoning, lowering residential potential,” Kester said.

One example of keeping actual growth at the 10,500 number includes changing the zoning code on single-family zoning. Currently, there can be four dwelling units per acre. That number could drop to three dwellings.

Coming up with the population figure will have many more steps until it is finally passed as part of the Pierce County Regional Council’s Vision 2040 policy.

Once the final figure is approved next year, it will be part of the city’s 2010 Comprehensive Plan update. At that point, late next year, the city’s planning commission will make recommendations for necessary zoning changes, including reviewing down-zoning options, Kester said.

The 10,500 figure is “very aggressive on the lower side and assumes no growth,” city council member Derek Young said. He added that lower estimates would only be “pretending.”

The city also looked at population figures as low as 9,500, which would have meant development would need to entirely cease, Kester said.

Council member Jim Franich, who voted against the number, questioned whether or not the methods for the population counting were adequate. Council member Ken Malich also voted no.

Reach Reporter Nate Hulings at 253-853-9243 or by e-mail at nate.hulings@gateline.com.