Tacoma: City Council Appoints Seven Members to New Urban Design Board
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~ Tacoma City Council Appoints Seven Members to New Urban Design Board

In a unanimous decision, the Tacoma City Council has appointed seven members to the newly established Urban Design Board (UDB). The board, which was created as part of a legislative package approved in May 2024, will play a crucial role in shaping and guiding large-scale developments in Tacoma's 16 Mixed-Use Centers.

The seven members were selected from a competitive pool of over two dozen applicants and will officially begin their term of service on January 1. The UDB's first meeting is scheduled for later that month.

According to Clara Cheeves, one of the newly appointed board members, the UDB has three core functions that align with Tacoma's vision for a well-designed and culturally expressive built environment. These functions include providing early concept design guidance and making final design decisions for specific Urban Design Project Review (UDPR) permits, offering advisory input to the city on urban design matters, and serving as an educational resource and advocate for design excellence.

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Cheeves brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in urban design, planning, and policy centered around the well-being of people and ecology. She is joined by Stephanie Gowing, Director of Sustainability at Absher Construction, who has over 14 years of experience in sustainability leadership. Gowing will oversee Absher's internal climate commitments and empower project teams to implement environmentally responsible construction solutions.

Krystal Monteros, another member of the UDB, has been an advocate for disability rights for eight years through her work with the Tacoma Area Commission on Disabilities. She is also co-founder of Empower Movement of WA and currently serves on the board for the Center For Independence.

Deborah Ranniger brings extensive professional experience in landscape architecture, urban planning and design to the board. With 12 years as a council member for Kent City under her belt, Ranniger is excited to share her expertise with the City of Tacoma's new Urban Design Board.

Architect Chris Reeh, who is based in the McKinley Hill neighborhood, will also serve on the UDB. Reeh has a passion for sustainable and innovative design and is a LEED accredited professional. He believes in the potential for good design and planning to improve the city.

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Brett Santhuff, a Senior Project Architect with McGranahanPBK, will bring his expertise in educational design and civic projects to the board. Santhuff has previously served on Tacoma's Planning Commission and has been involved with both the Neighborhood Council program and landmarks nominations and advocacy.

Rounding out the board is Jennifer Weddermann, a resident of Tacoma for 25 years and owner of Weddermann Architecture, PLLC. Weddermann is passionate about her city and its residents, as well as its architecture, culture, and downtown vitality.

The UDB will hold monthly meetings starting in January 2025, which will be open to the public either in-person or virtually. Meeting notices, agendas, and other information about the UDB can be found on the City of Tacoma's website at cityoftacoma.org/UrbanDesignBoard.

For those interested in learning more about Tacoma's new UDPR program and how it works, additional information can be found at cityoftacoma.org/urbandesignreview. With this new Urban Design Board in place, Tacoma is taking an important step towards creating a well-designed and vibrant built environment for its community members.

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