Title
Public Hearing on Final Draft of the Comprehensive Plan
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendations:
NA
City Manager Recommendation:
Hold public hearing and receive written comment through 5:00 p.m., Sunday, November 9, 2014.
Note: Public should submit written comments to:
· Postal Mail: Imagine Olympia, PO Box 1967, Olympia, WA 98507
Report
Issue:
Should the changes shown in Attachments 1 and 2 be included in the Final Draft Comprehensive Plan to be considered for adoption?
Staff Contact:
Leonard Bauer, Deputy Director, Community Planning and Development Department, 360.753.8206
Presenter:
Leonard Bauer, Deputy Director, Community Planning and Development Department
Background and Analysis:
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 review, and update if needed, is required every eight years by the GMA. This is the City of Olympia's major comprehensive plan update. Each major update must also address development regulations, and coordination with Thurston County to update urban growth areas. These remaining portions of the City's required GMA update will be completed by the deadline in June 2016.
The City Council held a public hearing on the Draft Comprehensive Plan update on July 22, 2014, and extended the period for receiving written comments until August 5, 2014.
The City Council has completed its review and deliberation regarding potential edits to the Draft Comprehensive Plan update, based on public comments received during its first public hearing and comment period.
The edits resulting from these Council discussions are included in Attachments 1 and 2.
One of the issues discussed by the Council was potential policies on whether to require alleys in new developments (see Draft Comprehensive Plan policies PT3.4, PT3.5 and PT3.6). The Council requested additional information on this issue, and that information is provided in Attachments 3 and 4. The Council chose to include two options for these policies for public comment. Both options are included in the attached comprehensive plan changes.
Additional information regarding the Comprehensive Plan update process is available at the link in Attachment 2.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
During the last five years many members of the public have participated in and commented on this periodic update of the Comprehensive Plan. The comments received at the Council's first public hearing are available to the Council and public to view at the attached link.
Options:
1. Conduct public hearing and receive written comments through 5:00 p.m., November 9, 2014.
2. Open public hearing and continue through a specified date and time.
Financial Impact:
None; this periodic Comprehensive Plan update is part of 2014 budget.