Title
Direction on Next Steps for Consideration of the Olympia Comprehensive Plan Update
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Plan, itself, came forward to Council from the Planning Commission. The request for work sessions is a recommendation from staff.
City Manager Recommendation:
Direct staff to schedule additional work sessions for further consideration of the Planning Commission-recommended draft Olympia Comprehensive Plan, and to consider city manager's recommendations.
(Note: At Tuesday's meeting, staff will present a list of potential issues to cover and an estimated number of additional work sessions.)
Report
Issue:
Should the City Council schedule additional work sessions to further consider the draft Olympia Comprehensive Plan?
Staff Contact:
Leonard Bauer, Deputy Director, Community Planning and Development, 753.8206
Presenter(s):
Leonard Bauer, Deputy Director, Community Planning and Development
Background and Analysis:
The Imagine Olympia <http://olympiawa.gov/imagine-olympia.aspx> website contains the final draft City of the Olympia Comprehensive Plan recommended by the Planning Commission. Also posted are numerous other documents describing the public process and summarizing the proposed amendments in the final draft Comprehensive Plan.
Staff will provide an overview of the final draft Plan at this work session and highlight some issues which the Council may want to further discuss at future work sessions. Some of these issues may result in city manager recommendations that differ from the Planning Commission recommendations.
Staff will also provide examples of additional process steps the City Council may choose to use to receive additional public comment on the Plan.
Background
In 2009, the City initiated a major update to its Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan describes the City's vision for the next twenty years, and provides the policy direction for the City to achieve that vision. The state Growth Management Act (GMA) requires that the Comprehensive Plan accommodate the growth that is projected to occur over the next twenty years. Plan elements include land use, housing, capital facilities, utilities, natural resources, transportation, economic development, cultural resources, and other topics.
The Comprehensive Plan may be amended annually and a major update is required every eight years by the GMA. Each major update must also address development regulations, and coordination with Thurston County to update urban growth areas. This is the City of Olympia's major comprehensive plan update. The remaining portions of the City's required GMA update will be completed by the deadline in 2016.
Public Process Background
Between 2009 and 2012, City staff and the Olympia Planning Commission reached out to the community through the Imagine Olympia process - including meetings, events, personal interviews, online surveys and more. Over one thousand community members participated in the public process to develop the draft Comprehensive Plan.
The Olympia Planning Commission completed preliminary draft recommendations in March 2013. After the Planning Commission submitted an Addendum to those recommendations in May 2013, the City Council returned the Addendum to the Commission in October for additional consideration. The Planning Commission completed its final recommendations in December 2013.
Also in October 2013, the City Council authorized a "Plain Talk" edit of the Comprehensive Plan to improve its clarity and usefulness to Olympia citizens. The professional editor has nearly completed these edits. They will be brought to the City Council in the near future.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There has been community-wide interest in the comprehensive plan update throughout its development.
Options:
1. Direct staff to schedule additional work sessions to further consider the Planning Commission-recommended draft Olympia Comprehensive Plan, and to consider city manager's recommendations.
2. Refer the draft Olympia Comprehensive Plan to the Land Use and Environment Committee for additional consideration.
3. Direct staff to schedule a public hearing on the draft Olympia Comprehensive Plan.
Financial Impact:
No immediate financial impact. Eventual adoption of the comprehensive plan will include policy direction for establishment or continuation of numerous city programs and projects, which would need to be included in future city budgets to be implemented.