Title
Introduction Chapter of the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan - Briefing
Recommended Action
Information only. No action requested.
Report
Issue:
Discussion on the draft Introduction Chapter of the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan.
Staff Contact:
Joyce Phillips, AICP, Long Range Planning Manager, Community Planning and Economic Development, 360.570.3722
Presenter(s):
Joyce Phillips, Long Range Planning Manager
Background and Analysis:
Olympia’s Comprehensive Plan
Olympia’s first Comprehensive Plan (Plan) was adopted more than 60 years ago. With the passage of the State’s Growth Management Act in 1990, Olympia prepared a new plan which was completed in 1994. The plan was amended a few times over the years. In 2014, the City completed a major rewrite of the Plan, with broad input and participation by community members.
The Plan covers the area of the Olympia City Limits and the urban growth area. It addresses issues like housing, land use, transportation, parks and open spaces, utilities and public services, and the economy. It also reflects community values, such as public participation, addressing climate change, and tree preservation. Once adopted, the Plan becomes the adopted vision for how and where our community will grow and change, and be served with utilities, infrastructure, and public services. Comprehensive Plans must be updated every 10 years.
Growth Management Act (GMA)
The GMA (RCW 36.70A) establishes a framework for comprehensive planning in Washington State. It includes statewide planning goals that each jurisdiction must balance locally. Some of the primary objectives of the GMA are to protect resource lands of long-term commercial significance (agricultural, forestry, and mineral resource lands), to plan for growth in urban areas where it can be served with a full range of urban services, to prevent sprawl, and to protect environmentally sensitive areas.
Land is in one of three categories - urban, rural, or resource lands. Depending on which category the land is in, there are different provisions of the GMA that apply. Cities and urban growth areas are considered urban.
The GMA identifies what must be included in local government Comprehensive Plans. It identifies required elements of the plans, which are often referred to as chapters. It allows for “optional” elements as well. Each required element contains minimum requirements local governments must address. Any optional elements must be consistent with the required elements.
Periodic Update
Counties and Cities are required to update Comprehensive Plans at least once every ten years. Thurston County, and the cities within it, must complete the periodic update by December 31, 2025. This also includes the requirement to update any development regulations (codes) that implement the Plan, if needed in order to be consistent with the new Plan.
The update requires the city to:
• Extend the planning horizon to at least year 2045
• Update population projections
• Address changes and new requirements in state laws
Phased Approach and Timeline
The City is using a phased approach to complete the update. This is allowing us to make the most use of staff resources to complete as much of the associated work in-house as is possible. Through a coordinated effort, each chapter will be updated through a public process by staff from across most City Departments. The process varies by chapter.
Proposed revisions to the Introduction Chapter include updating the numbers, expanding upon the examples of using the Plan, adding a statement about equity, updating the Implementation section to refer to the City Work Plan and reports rather than the Action Plan, updating the maps and photos, and updating the Key Challenges section.
Climate Analysis:
Each of the topic chapters of the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan and being updated with climate change in mind, both from a reducing greenhouse gas emissions perspective and also for opportunities to be more resilient to the impacts of climate change. This Plan will include a chapter on Climate Action and Resiliency and will shape the goals and policies across the Plan. Because there will be a chapter specifically on the topic of climate, the section on sea level rise in the Introduction Chapter is being shortened, as well as expanded to cover more aspects of climate issues.
Equity Analysis:
Equity is a key theme of the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan. The Plan is intended to address the basic needs of all Olympians and future community members while also working to provide opportunities for all people to thrive. In the Introduction Chapter, language has been added to express the specific intention of reviewing the goals and policies within the Plan with through a lens of equity. Additionally, the Key Challenges section near the end of the Chapter has been revised to include language about housing being accessible and affordable to community members who live, or want to live, in Olympia.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The topics addressed in the Comprehensive Plan is of interest to most people who live or work in Olympia. We have not yet released a public draft of, or received any public comments on, the Introduction Chapter. Staff anticipates releasing the public draft during the period of time between when the staff report is completed (March 17, 2025) and the briefing with the Social Justice and Equity Commission (March 24, 2025). Any public comments received before the briefing will be shared with the Commission.
Options:
1. Receive the briefing and provide feedback on the draft Olympia 2045 Introduction Chapter.
2. Receive the briefing and do not provide feedback on the draft Olympia 2045 Introduction Chapter.
3. Do not receive the briefing and reschedule it for a later date.
Financial Impact:
Updating the Comprehensive Plan is being funded, in part, by a $175,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce.
Attachments:
Draft Introduction Chapter
Public Comments
Olympia 2045 Webpage