Title
Review of Vision and Values Statements in the July Draft of the Comprehensive Plan Update
Body
Issue:
The Planning Commission's Charter for review of the Comprehensive Plan Update includes, provide a "recommendation on the updated vision and values statements as derived from the Imagine Olympia process." Tonight, the Commission will review the proposed vision and values statements, and provide direction to staff regarding any changes to be brought forth for consideration during their final deliberations in November.
Presenter(s):
Keith Stahley, Director of Community Planning & Development
Amy Buckler, Associate Planner, Community Planning & Development
Background and Analysis:
The Growth Management Act states, "the comprehensive plan should include a vision for the community at the end of the twenty-year planning period and identify community values derived from the visioning and other citizen participation processes (WAC 365.196.400.2.e)."
In 2009, the City kicked off Imagine Olympia (the public process associated with the Comprehensive Plan Update) beginning with a scoping phase where community members were asked about their hopes, dreams and priorites for Olympia's future. Subsequently, in 2010, the City Council adopted a Scope of the Comprehensive Plan Update that includes, "Update the Plan's vision statement to reflect new concepts of sustainability, and to address climate change and other emerging issues and to reflect current interests and priorities."
In Fall of 2010, a subcommittee of Planning Commissioners worked with Director Keith Stahley to review the vision statement in the existing plan and revise it according to Council's direction. Their revision incorporated concepts from the existing vision with public input from the first phase of Imagine Olympia. The Commission also changed the format to highlight community values.
Later, during development of the April and July drafts, staff made minor changes to the language in accordance with "Plain Talk" writing standards and public comment. Staff also proposed a new value regarding "innovation," and removed a value statement regarding the "shoreline," merging it within the "natural and built environment" category.
Links are provided to the existing and proposed new values and vision statements online. The new proposed vision and values statements can be found in the Olympia's Vision chapter of the July Draft, under the heading "Olympia's Vision and Values." The existing vision statement can be found in Volume One: Overview of the current Comprehensive Plan, beginning on page 20. A link is also provided to public comments received on Imagine Olympia from 2009 through July 2012.
Questions for the Commission include:
- Do the proposed Vision and Values statements accurately represent what you heard from the community during the Imagine Olympia process?
- Do the statements make sense?
- Do they provide the right foundation for the goals and policies in the Plan?