The City of Fife’s initiative to refine its development agreement (DA) framework represents a fundamental shift in how the municipality will direct future urban growth. By moving beyond the rigid constraints of standard zoning codes, the city is positioning itself to handle the complexities of modern, large-scale regional projects that define twenty-first-century development. Because a development agreement functions as a legally binding contract rather than a mere permit, it provides a level of regulatory "vesting" that is essential for the future. This stability ensures that long-term projects—some spanning up to 25 years—are protected from mid-stream changes in city code, thereby reducing the financial risk that often prevents high-value developers from committing to ambitious, multi-phase master plans.

The Fife City Council, at its June 24 meeting, gave its unanimous approval to the Fife Forward 2024-2044 Comprehensive Plan periodic update. This significant milestone marks the culmination of an extensive two-year period of community engagement, during which residents actively participated in numerous polls, open houses, and public hearings, providing invaluable input that shaped the plan's vision for a brighter future. The Council's decisive vote underscores a collective commitment to a well-defined strategy for managing Fife's growth and development over the next two decades, ensuring the city's unique advantages are preserved and enhanced. This plan now stands as the foundational policy document, guiding all future decisions regarding the city's shape, character, and form.

The City of Fife is undertaking a comprehensive update to its zoning regulations as part of its 2024-2044 Periodic Update, proposing significant changes to existing zoning designations and introducing new ones to better reflect the city's evolving landscape and planning objectives. A key focus of these proposed changes is the area surrounding the future Sound Transit station, with the creation of two new zones: City Center North and City Center South. City Center North is specifically designed for the immediate vicinity north of the freeway, anticipating higher density development and mixed-use opportunities capitalizing on the transit infrastructure. In contrast, City Center South is envisioned as a buffer zone south of the freeway, providing a transition between the more intense development of City Center North and the existing lower density residential areas in central Fife.

The City of Fife is undertaking a significant update to its Comprehensive Plan, known as the 2024-44 Comprehensive Plan, to replace the existing document and align with state, regional, and county mandates, notably the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) and Puget Sound Regional Council's (PSRC) Vision 2050. This comprehensive revision, spanning two and a half years, is driven by public input and evolving legislative requirements, particularly concerning affordable housing and climate change.