Title
Approval of Code Amendments for the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Move to accept the Planning Commission recommendation to adopt the proposed Code Amendments for the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update and forward to the full Council for approval.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to accept the Planning Commission recommendation to adopt the proposed Code Amendments for the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update and forward to the full Council for approval.
Report
Issue:
Whether to accept the Planning Commission recommendation to adopt the proposed Code Amendments for the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update and forward to the full Council for approval.
Staff Contact:
Joyce Phillips, Planning Manager, Community Planning and Economic Development, 360.570.3722
Presenter(s):
Joyce Phillips, Planning Manager
Background and Analysis:
Under Washington State’s Growth Management Act, the City of Olympia is required to complete a periodic update of its Comprehensive Plan at least once every ten years. This update is to be completed by December 31, 2025, and it includes a requirement to update development regulations in addition to the Comprehensive Plan. Development regulations or “codes” are part of the Olympia Municipal Code, such as the zoning provisions of Title 18, Unified Development Code.
When a new or amended Comprehensive Plan is adopted, cities must take steps to ensure the development regulations are consistent with the Plan. Additionally, cities must update any regulations that are not consistent with new or amended state laws that have been adopted since the previous periodic update.
The Washington State Department of Commerce prepares a checklist for local governments use in determining what, if any, development regulation updates are needed. For the most part, the City of Olympia has been addressing these changes on a regular basis. However, some of the more recent requirements need to be addressed.
The proposed amendments were separated into two categories. Proposed amendments 1-7 address requirements in state law. Proposed amendments A and B are proposed to maintain consistency between proposed Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan and the City’s development regulations. Please see Attachment 1.
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission was briefed on the proposed code amendments in September and held a public hearing on the proposal on October 6, 2025. Written comments were provided to the Commissioners prior to the meeting. One person provided public testimony about private covenants during the public hearing. The Commission completed its deliberations and recommends approval of the code amendments, as proposed.
Climate Analysis:
Most of these proposed amendments are relatively minor, such as updating a definition or clarifying the applicability of transportation concurrency requirements to state facilities, and do not directly have a tie to greenhouse gas emissions. However, the provisions around neighborhood centers could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by supporting shorter transportation trips and potentially more active forms of transportation (walking, rolling, or bicycling) to reach nearby, neighborhood-scale commercial uses within neighborhoods.
Equity Analysis:
This group of proposed code amendments are primarily needed to meet state requirements or to maintain consistency between the Comprehensive Plan and the City’s development regulations. In theory, these amendments apply equally across the City. The Plan is being amended to include a broader approach to equity and to remove any systemic barriers to equity for all people.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Public comments have been solicited and considered as each of the comprehensive plan chapters were being updated and reviewed. The proposed amendments have been sent to all “parties of record” and all recognized neighborhood associations so community members can comment on this part of the update as well. To date, no written comments have been received on the proposed code amendments.
Financial Impact:
This work is being funded, in part, by a Periodic Update Grant in the amount of $175,000 from the Washington State Department of Commerce.
Options:
1. Move to accept the Planning Commission recommendation to adopt the proposed Code Amendments for the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update and forward to the full Council for approval.
2. Move to accept the Planning Commission recommendation, with revisions, and forward to the full Council for approval.
3. Do not accept the Planning Commission recommendation or the proposed code amendments and direct staff to return to the Land Use and Environment Committee for further discussion.
Attachments:
Draft Code Amendments
Public Comments
Olympia 2045 Webpage