We
conducted field inventories, background assessments, design and development
sketches, and a public participation survey for an urban design visioning forum
for the Gig Harbor Planning Department, Planning Commission, and City Council.
The
city was in the process of updating their comprehensive plan and development
regulations to comply with the visioning standards required by the Growth
Management Act (GMA). Planning Commission and Council members wanted to know the
public’s opinions about current development conditions, design standards, and
development densities prior to formulating new codes and ordinances.
We created example plans and sketches
to illustrate housing, streetscape, parking, building, and other urban design
alternatives compared with existing development conditions for public policy
evaluation. Existing and possible design alternatives were displayed during a
public forum with 90 property owners, residents, and developers. The interactive
forum provided the participants surveys with which to evaluate and prioritize
present and proposed urban design policies.
The
city used the results of the visioning process to update and refine development
code provisions, urban design standards, and capital facility program
priorities.