The Gig Harbor Planning Department has initiated a state-mandated overhaul of its development code, a significant action poised to redefine the city's future growth trajectory, particularly in the realm of housing affordability and efficient land use. Presented by Development Director Eric Baker and Senior Planner Jeremy Hammar, these proposed changes are far more than technical revisions; they represent a fundamental shift in philosophy designed to encourage the development community to create affordable and diverse housing options within city limits while maintaining essential environmental and aesthetic safeguards. The public will have a critical opportunity to shape the draft changes through workshops and outreach concluding at the end of 2025, with final City Council consideration anticipated for early 2026.

Gig Harbor is nearing completion of its Comprehensive Plan, a 20-year roadmap mandated by Washington State to manage anticipated population growth. Community Development Director Eric Baker presented the draft plan to the City Council on March 24th, outlining strategies for housing development through 2044. The city has experienced significant growth, doubling its population since 2010, particularly in Gig Harbor North. The draft plan identified five key "Centers of Local Importance" as suitable for increased high- and medium-density housing: Gig Harbor North, Finholm, downtown, Kimball, and Westside. These areas, according to Baker, possess the necessary services like transit, shopping, and sidewalks to support denser development and encourage pedestrian activity.

Gig Harbor's overdue 2044 Comprehensive Plan update is grappling with the state mandate to accommodate moderate to low-income housing, necessitating a shift towards higher-density residential development. This requirement pushes the city to enable developers to create 662 new homes, with over half affordable to those with moderate to low incomes. To achieve this, the plan proposes significant upzones, notably a fivefold increase in density on a 13-acre parcel in Swede Hill and a similar increase around Point Fosdick and Olympic Drives.