Title
Comprehensive Plan Topics for Review
Body
Issue:
Comprehensive Plan Update
Committee Recommendation:
N/A
Director's Recommendation:
Move to determine a list of Comprehensive Plan topics on which the Planning Commission will deliberate.
Staff Contact: Stacey Ray, Associate Planner, (360) 753-8046
Presenter(s): Amy Tousley, Chair, Olympia Planning Commission
Background and Analysis:
Background
On Friday, July 6, 2012, the City released a second draft of the Comprehensive Plan called the "July Draft." The July Draft is the draft on which the Planning Commission has requested community input on throughout July. The Commission hosted a series of public hearings on Monday, July 23, and Wednesday, July 25. The record also remained opened for the submittal of written comments until Friday, July 27 at 5:00 PM.
A Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Comprehensive Plan was also made available on the City's website on July 18, 2012. The SEIS provides background and analysis for the proposed updates in the Plan. The comment period for the Draft SEIS will remain open until Monday, August 20.
Having completed the public hearings, the Commission can now begin determining what issues should be included on their work plan for deliberation. When the Commission deliberates, members review, discuss, and form recommendations on different elements of the July Draft. Staff will incorporate those recommendations into a new draft, which will then be forwarded to the City Council as the Commissions' recommended Comprehensive Plan update.
Prioritizing what issues to deliberate on is important, as the Commission has entered into a Charter with Council agreeing to deliver their recommended update to Council in January 2013. This timeframe is consistent with the notion that there are elements of the Plan that represent the community's long-term vision and need minimal review. The charter establishes the general process and scope for the Commission's review.
Recommended Resources
The July Draft is the product of over three years of community engagement in the Imagine Olympia update process, beginning with community-wide scoping in 2009. The update process to date has generated an extensive amount of community input and staff analysis, all of which is incorporated into the formal record and may be referenced in determining key issues for discussion.
Staff recommends the Commission consider the following sources when determining what issues should be prioritized for deliberation:
1. Imagine Olympia website. (All public comments received to date are linked from "The Process" page) (Attachment 1)
2. Council-approved Scope of the Comprehensive Plan Update (Attachment 2)
3. Focus Meeting Series Summary Report (Attachment 3)
4. Minutes from CPU Sub-Committee Meetings-Policy Discussion Series (August 22, 2011, September 12, 2011, October 10, 2011, November 14, 2011, and December 12, 2011)
5. April Draft Public Comments (Attachment 4)
6. July Draft of the Comprehensive Plan (Attachment 5)
7. Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Attachment 6)
8. July Draft Substantive Change List (Attachment 7)
9. July Draft Public Comments (to be posted at ImagineOlympia.com and distributed to Commissioners on Friday, July 27, after 5:00 PM)
10. Planning Commission Comprehensive Plan Update Charter (Attachment 8)
Some sources noted in the above list are critical in understanding staff's directive and subsequent substantive changes in the draft, such as the Council-approved Scope of the Update and the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.
Other sources demonstrate and summarize the vast amount of community input received during the many meetings and workshops that have been held throughout Imagine Olympia, such as the Focus Meeting Summary Report and the public comments received on the April Draft.
Lastly, the Planning Commission Comprehensive Plan Update Charter, approved by Council on July 10, 2012 outlines an agreed upon scope, roles, and goals for the review process. The purpose being to make clear to the City Council, Planning Commission, and the public the goals and process by which the Commission will review the Comprehensive Plan update.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Options: N/A
Financial Impact:
Included in base budget. This work item is included in the Commission's annual work plan.