Urban Design Board
The Urban Design Board is a civic commission established by the Tacoma City Council to support our community’s goals for a high-quality built environment.
The Tacoma Urban Design Board has three core functions that include providing early concept design guidance and making final design decisions for specific Urban Design Project Review (UDPR) permits; giving advisory input to the City of Tacoma on matters related to urban design; and serving as an educational resource to the community and an advocate for design excellence, benefiting all of Tacoma and its community members.
It was established in 2024 by Tacoma Municipal Code Chapter 13.19 (Ordinance 28966).
Fact Sheet on the Urban Design BoardAgendas, Minutes, and Meeting Records
View agendas, minutes, recordings, and other records for current and past meetings of the City of Tacoma Urban Design Board.
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Date Agenda/Agenda Packet Presentations Audio Minutes January 16, 2025 Agenda Packet • Staff Presentation
• OPMA PresentationAudio Minutes February 20, 2025 Agenda Packet Presentation Audio Minutes March 20, 2025 Agenda Packet Presentation Audio Minutes April 17, 2025
(cancelled)N/A N/A N/A N/A May 15, 2025
(UDPR Public Meeting Notice)Agenda Packet Presentation Audio June 19, 2025
(cancelled)N/A N/A N/A N/A June 26, 2025
(special meeting)July 17, 2025 August 21, 2025 September 18, 2025 October 16, 2025 November 20, 2025 December 18, 2025
Membership
The Urban Design Board consists of seven (7) positions, appointed by the City Council for staggered three-year terms. The composition of the Board includes:
- Design and Development Professional (four positions): These members bring professional experience related to site and building design and development from fields such as architecture, landscape architecture, planning, urban design, land use or real estate law, real estate development, construction or building trades, and civil or structural engineering.
- Allied Community Representative (three positions): These members offer lived and/or professional experience and/or training in active/multimodal transportation, sustainable development, and culture and heritage. Their expertise spans various fields, including transit agency administration, transportation planner or engineer, “green” building professional, urban forestry professional, environmental planner, artisan/craftsperson, historian, architectural history professional, and cultural organization administrator. One representative is to be appointed for each of the three priority subject areas.
Additional Board membership information:
- Two of the seven positions must reside and/or conduct business primarily in Council Districts three, four, or five.
- While preference will be given to Tacoma residents, up to two Board members may reside outside of Tacoma.
Current Commissioners
- Design and Development – Chris Reeh
- Design and Development – Clara Cheeves
- Design and Development – Deborah Ranniger
- Design and Development – Brett Santhuff
- Allied Community Representative (Sustainable Development) – Stephanie Gowing
- Allied Community Representative (Active/Multi-modal Transportation) – Krystal Monteros
- Allied Community Representative (Culture & Heritage) – Jennifer Weddermann
Staff Support
The Urban Design Board is supported by the Planning and Development Services Department.
Meeting Information
Hybrid (In-Person and Virtual Options)
Tacoma Municipal Building
747 Market Street, Conference Room 243
Tacoma, WA 98402
Zoom:
www.zoom.us/j/82923259724
Dial In: +1 253 215 8782; Webinar ID: 829 2325 9724
Stephen Antupit
Senior Planner
santupit@tacoma.gov
Carl Metz
Senior Planner
cmetz@tacoma.gov