County recognized for excellence in planning

Pierce County has received the Excellence in County Planning Award from Futurewise, a statewide organization that encourages healthy, equitable, opportunity-rich communities that protect valuable resources through wise land use policies and practices.

The award recognizes the County’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan, a major milestone in shaping the region’s future for the next 20 years. Futurewise selected Pierce County based on its innovative approach to land use, regional coordination, and alignment with Washington State’s Growth Management Act.

The Comprehensive Plan, adopted earlier this year, was led by the Long-Range Planning Division in the Planning and Public Works Department and the Pierce County Council, with extensive collaboration from departments and divisions across the County. The plan sets a bold course for growth management, environmental protection, housing, transportation, infrastructure, and economic development.

“This award reflects years of hard work, collaboration and vision among our staff and community,” said County Executive Ryan Mello. “This plan provides an essential foundation for all our efforts to build communities that are safe, welcoming and connected. It touches on everything from childcare and safe roads to more housing and open spaces, so we can make sure Pierce County is a place people are proud to call home.”

Highlights from the plan include accommodating up to 250,000 new homes in urban areas, expanding housing choices, supporting affordability and prioritizing neighborhoods that are more walkable and designed with people and the planet in mind; conserving up to 100,000 acres of natural lands, increasing urban tree canopy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent by 2030; advancing multimodal transportation, active travel options, and implementing Vision Zero principles that help us all arrive home safely; and investing in historically underserved communities and increasing access to essential services like childcare and high-speed internet in rural areas.

The plan also strengthens protections for cultural and environmental resources while supporting responsible economic development and infrastructure investments.

The Pierce County Comprehensive Plan is a 20-year policy document that addresses growth in the unincorporated areas of Pierce County. It is the foundation for several community plans and capital facilities planning, which must be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s policy framework. 

To learn more about Pierce County’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan and the ongoing work to implement it, visit PierceCountyWA.gov/CompPlan.