University Place
Small Communities Cohort Program
University Place
Vulnerability Assessment and Action Plan
The City of University Place is a growing community along Puget Sound in Pierce County, Washington. University Place is home to a population of approximately 35,000 and is primarily a residential community neighboring the larger cities of Tacoma and Lakewood.
The City’s proximity to water, diverse terrain, and blend of urban and suburban landscapes place the community at risk for multiple climate hazards. Rising temperatures have amplified urban heat stress, particularly in neighborhoods with low tree cover impacting vulnerable populations. More frequent storm events, King Tides, and sea level rise increasingly challenge the city’s shoreline and stormwater systems.
In preparation to informing the required climate elements in its future comprehensive plan, the Small Communities Cohort Program is supporting the University Place in conducting a vulnerability assessment of its climate hazards, which will eventually guide the City’s efforts to develop a climate action strategy.
The Small Community Cohort Program Project
Through participation in the Small Communities Cohort, the City of University Place seeks to implement required climate elements in its future Comprehensive Plan. Work on this project will entail gathering baseline data and mapping where risks may impact vulnerable populations; conducting a climate change vulnerability assessment focused on current and emerging climate-related hazards such as urban heat impacts, flood risks, reduced tree canopy, and urban wildfire threats; and developing mitigation strategies for inclusion in the City’s comprehensive plan and emergency management planning.
Project Goals
01
Conducting a preliminary exposure assessment that baselines available information about climate risks in University Place.
02
Completing a climate vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan.
03
Developing Comprehensive Plan climate element recommendations reflective of key findings and recommendations from the climate vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan.
For More Information:
The Small Communities Cohort Program, hosted by the Puget Sound Climate Preparedness Collaborative, supports climate preparedness projects in 12 smaller and/or less resourced jurisdictions and Tribes through staffing and consulting support.
