Local Scientists, Activists, Planners Deliberate Future of Tacoma's Waterfront

The University of Washington Tacoma will hold a public forum to discuss the city of Tacoma's Shoreline Master Program update and the potential outcomes affecting environmental health of the shoreline, economic growth and public access to the waterfront.

UW Tacoma's Urban Studies program is hosting the event on Jan. 28, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., in Philip Hall on the Tacoma campus. The forum is free and open to the public, with complimentary lunch provided for those who pre-register.

The deliberations will be divided into three panels. The first, Contextualizing Urban Water/Front Issues, begins at 9:15 a.m. and will be moderated by UW Tacoma Assistant Professor Anne Taufen Wessells. Panelists include UW Tacoma Professor Joel Baker, University of Puget Sound Assistant Professor Dan Sherman, Ryan Mello of Cascade Land Conservancy, and UW Tacoma Assistant Professor Mark Pendras.

The second panel, In the Field: What's Going On, What's Coming, begins at 11 a.m. and will be moderated by Derek Young. Panelists will be Steve Atkinson, a planner with the city of Tacoma, Tacoma News Tribune political columnist Peter Callaghan, Clare Petrich of the Port of Tacoma, Leslie Ann Rose of Citizens for a Healthy Bay, and David Boe of Boe Architects and the city of Tacoma's Planning Commission.

Panel three, Educational and Civic Engagement, begins at 1:30 p.m. and will be moderated by UW Tacoma Associate Professor Jose Rios. The speakers will be Sue Dowie of the Theo Foss Development Authority, Tom Cashman of Foss Waterway Seaport, Lara Herrmann of Walk the Waterfront, and UW Tacoma Associate Professor Jim Gawel.