Tacoma Plan Would Eliminate Single-Family Zoning in Favor of 'Missing Middle' Housing

If implemented, Home in Tacoma would create new housing categories to encourage more multi-family buildings.

1 minute read

March 21, 2021, 9:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Duplex

lensfield / Shutterstock

Home in Tacoma proposes major reforms to the city's historically single-family zoning, calling for new housing categories that create more density and affordable "missing middle housing" options. Nick Bowman, writing for MyNorthwest, reports on the policy recommendations, which include "a pair of potential options would either have the city be 75% low-scale and 25% mid-scale, or 40% low-scale and 60% mid-scale."

The proposal "would eliminate the 'single family' and 'multi-family' land use designations altogether, replacing them with 'low-scale residential' and 'mid-scale residential.'" The commission stated that the two options presented both "include significant new housing options." Compiled by the Home in Tacoma Project at the direction of the Tacoma City Council, the proposal focuses on expanding multi-family housing options in a city where 90% of land is currently zoned for single-family homes.

The proposal also recommends the "expansion of regulatory affordable housing incentives and requirements" and "anti-displacement actions intended to help lower- income residents remain in growing neighborhoods."

The Planning Commission is accepting public comments and will hold a public hearing on April 7. According to the Home in Tacoma Project, "the City Council has directed staff and the Commission to provide zoning and development standards updates to implement the adopted policy direction by December of 2021."

Thursday, March 11, 2021 in MyNorthwest

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

The Seat of Government

Good Planning Under Bad Leadership

Planners must sometimes work under bad leadership. Here are suggestions for responsive planning in challenging political environments.

February 3, 2025 - Todd Litman

Amtrak train with downtown Seattle in background.

Amtrak Cascades Line Breaks Ridership Record

The route linking Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, BC served nearly one million riders in 2024.

February 2, 2025 - Daily Hive

Close-up of Donald Shoup during interview.

Legendary Parking Guru Donald Shoup Dies at 86

Urbanists are mourning the loss of a dynamic voice for parking reform and walkable cities.

February 10, 2025 - StreetsBlog NYC

Top floors of blue and white apartment building with palm trees against sunny blue sky in Malibu, California.

LA County Leaders Seek to Increase Penalties for Rent Gouging

Landlords who raise rents sharply after disasters could face fines of up to $50,000.

February 11 - Los Angeles Times

Man and two children on bikes next to red and silver train on sunny day.

How ‘Anti-DEI’ Efforts Impact Sustainable Transportation Studies

Research into accessibility, transit equity, and traffic safety is losing federal funding at an alarming rate.

February 11 - Streetsblog USA

Man sitting in chair along River Seine in Paris with fishing pole.

River Seine ‘Teeming’ With Life

Decades of restoration efforts are yielding positive results as dozens of species of fish return to the once-polluted waterway.

February 11 - Reasons to Be Cheerful

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.