At their regular meeting on Tuesday, May 8th, the Normandy Park City Council adopted its new plan for the “Manhattan Village” subarea, developed by Studio Cascade.

The vote was a major milestone in that city’s efforts to revitalize the second of its two commercially-zoned areas, helping shore up revenue streams and providing for a long-term future including a mixed-use center at the site. The plan also included an integrated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), a Planned Action Ordinance (PAO) and recommended strategies to incorporate a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program with the plan’s funding partner, King County.

The plan passed through earlier Planning Commission review with broad-based support, including from many residents who’d begun the process highly skeptical of City motives or of the ability to accommodate higher densities without negative impacts.

The City will now move to considering a TDR ordinance and inter-local agreements necessary to begin plan implementation. The plan also calls for quick updates to the City’s design guidelines, zoning and comprehensive plan.