Title:
Discussion of Land Use Issues Related to Zoning
Recommended Action
City Manager Recommendation:
Provide preliminary direction to staff regarding any changes or alternatives for the draft Comprehensive Plan update.
Report
Issue:
On August 12, 2014, following the public hearing, the Council directed that a work session be scheduled for more discussion of the "Zoning and Land Use" issues associated with the proposed Comprehensive Plan update. As described below, this work session encompasses a variety of issues related to land use aspects of the Plan - some general in nature and some specific - and potential implementing development regulations. (A separate agenda item addresses those land use issues related to the proposed Urban Corridors.)
Staff Contact:
Todd Stamm, Principal Planner, Community Planning and Development Department, 360.753.8597
Presenter(s):
Todd Stamm, Principal Planner, Community Planning and Development Department
Amy Buckler, Associate Planner, Community Planning and Development Department
Background and Analysis:
The Comprehensive Plan generally does not directly regulate development; instead it guides preparation of development regulations such as zoning regulations and design and development standards. During the Council's public hearing, many individuals recommended 'putting zoning back in the Plan.' In general these comments arose from an early decision to make the updated Comprehensive Plan more accessible and readable by removing details regarding implementing measures, and instead placing those in other documents - including a new "Action Plan" - to be adopted by Council after the Plan is approved.
Compared to the Plan adopted in 1988, the Comprehensive Plan adopted by Olympia in 1994 in response to the Growth Management Act included extensive background information regarding how the Plan would be implemented - including references to particular development regulations. In some cases those regula...
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