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' The citizens of South Hill envision a dynamic residential community with a variety of neighborhoods and housing choices. A locale where residential and business developments are integrated into the natural environment. A safe place, where schools and parks provide focal points and opportunities for citizen involvement in the social fabric of South Hill. A location where neighborhoods are connected to businesses, schools, and services through a functional transportation network that includes roads, sidewalks, bike lanes, and, where needed, transit services. A community where small neighborhood businesses provide the daily needs of local residents. A part of Pierce County where public services meet the needs of the South Hill population.' (Vision Statement, South Hill Community Plan)
The South Hill Community Plan contains five elements: Land Use, Community Character and Design, Natural Environment, Economic, and Facilities and Services. Each element contains a 1) description of existing and desired conditions 2) policy objectives, principles and standards and 3) an implementing action steps.
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Land Use Element: The Land Use Element of the South Hill Community Plan provides direction regarding the location and intensity of commercial, industrial, residential, and civic land uses. This element supplements and further refines the Land Use element of the Pierce County Comprehensive Plan. Where the community plan provides specific guidance regarding land uses, the policy language of this plan will govern. Where the community plan does not provide specific guidance, the reader is directed to utilize the land use objectives, principles, and standards of the Pierce County Comprehensive Plan. The plan introduces two new zoning classifications; Urban Village (UV) and High Density Single Family (HSF).
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Community Character and Design Element: Community design deals with the physical elements that compose the character of our communities: the streets, parks, buildings, open space, and neighborhoods that determine the way communities look and feel. It is a blending of land use planning, architecture, landscape architecture, and environmental protection. Community design considers the way in which buildings, streets, public places, natural features, and other development relate to one another and the people who use them. Through community design, individual improvements, such as street construction, park development, land use regulation and new commercial, industrial, residential and civic development can be effectively coordinated with each other to promote a unified community image.
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Natural Environment: The Natural Environment Element addresses the protection and conservation of the natural resources in South Hill such as water, air, vegetation, fish, and wildlife. The residents of South Hill are concerned about the loss and continual degradation of natural resources that have occurred over the past couple of decades. Of particular concern is the loss of trees. The trees and vegetation of the Pacific Northwest offer valuable habitat to wildlife while providing the human environment with visual relief, shade, noise barriers, and an opportunity for integration of the earth's natural resources. In surveys, open houses, and public meetings, the citizens of South Hill have repeatedly expressed concern about the tendency of new development to clear all vegetation, bring in fill, grade the site, construct homes or buildings, and then decorate with small deciduous trees.
Tree retention and replacement is a key component of the South Hill Community Plan. A number of environmental strategies are identified within the element to ensure preservation of not only trees, but groundwater and air quality as well.
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Economic Element: The Economic Element of the South Hill Community Plan builds upon the current economic strength of the community. The economic strength of South Hill is in its ability to provide commercial services not only to local residents, but also to those who reside in the rural communities located to the south and east of the Hill. Many citizens who live in Graham, Eatonville, Nisqually, and Orting purchase goods from commercial businesses located along Meridian Avenue. The regional services provided along Meridian Avenue encompass not only commercial uses, but health and civic services as well. The community plan continues to strengthen the role of South Hill as a provider of regional commercial, health, and civic services.
The community plan emphasizes quality of commercial uses over quantity. Design standards emphasize landscaping, marked pedestrian pathways to and from businesses as well as through parking lots, building variation, sign design, and lighting. Improving the appearance of the buildings which provide the pedestrian the ability to safely move about within the center will change and strengthen Meridian Avenue over time.
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Facilities and Services Element: Prior to the substantial growth experienced in the late 80's and throughout the 90's the low-density residential land use pattern sustained an acceptable quality of life with limited government facilities and services. The two-lane road networks facilitated traffic without congestion, schools provided necessary recreation areas, and the natural environment accommodated stormwater runoff.
The residential growth experienced in the past 20 years has transformed the community into an urban residential community for the Tacoma and Seattle metropolitan area. While this growth has been accompanied by additional facilities and services, such as a sheriff substation, a library, schools, road improvements, and sewer and stormwater utilities, deficiencies still continue for some types of facilities.
The Facilities and Services Element articulates future policy guidance to decisions makers for the adoption of regulations, financial investments and coordination associated with parks and trails, stormwater utilities, sewer utilities, potable water systems, public schools, Pierce County Airport (Thun Field), County satellite offices, and transportation.
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