4-1-060 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN:

A. PURPOSES OF PLAN:

1. The primary purpose of the Comprehensive Plan is to define and establish the policy relating to the development of the community as a whole; to indicate the principles and objectives which shall guide the establishment, development and implementation of definite and precise plans, public and private; to provide for the coordination of the many separate plans which govern the development of this community, to officially adopt a program and guide which will enable the City to attain the principles and objectives set forth in chapter 35.63 RCW and the Growth Management Act (chapter 36.70A RCW) in the manner provided. (Ord. 4437, 2-21-1994)

2. The overriding consideration is to promote public safety, welfare, and interest. Additional factors to be considered (not in order of priority) are preservation of property rights, protection of life and property, equal opportunities, public interests prevailing over private interests, and economic and social benefits. (Ord. 3976, 3-3-1986)

3. The Comprehensive Plan is intended to guide the enactment of development regulations that are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and capital budget decisions that are in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan.

4. The Comprehensive Plan is intended to help resolve some of the dilemmas confronting municipal officials and the people they represent, and to provide a coordinated approach to local and regional problem solving.

5. Additional purposes of the Comprehensive Plan are:

a. To improve the physical and social environment of the City as a setting for human activities; to make it more functional, beautiful, decent, healthful, interesting and efficient;

b. To insure acceptable levels of access, utilities and other public services to future growth and development;

c. To promote the public interest, and the interest of the City at large;

d. To facilitate the democratic determination and implementation of City policies and development;

e. To effect coordination in development;

f. To inject long range considerations into the determination of short-range actions;

g. To provide professional and technical knowledge in the decisions affecting development of the City; and

h. To guide future development and growth in the City that is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Growth Management Act as defined in RCW 36.70A.020, Planning Goals.

B. DESCRIPTION OF PLAN:

The planning horizon for the Comprehensive Plan is twenty (20) years. The Plan is, of necessity, general in its proposals. It must be flexible, since it is impossible to predict all future events which may affect the community. The Plan is not a development regulation, although it makes significant recommendations for future land use. The Plan is not precise. It does not present engineering accuracy, nor does it claim to predict exactly the future use of every parcel of property. It is not intended to retroactively impose compliance with goals, objectives and policies upon existing developed property, but voluntary compliance is encouraged.

C. PLAN ELEMENTS:

1. Required Elements: The Comprehensive Plan shall contain the following mandatory planning elements as required by the Growth Management Act:

a. A land use element designating the proposed distribution, location and extent of the uses of land.

b. A transportation element that is consistent with the land use element and includes land use assumptions, an inventory of facility and service needs, service standards, financing needs and a reassessment of land use, if service standards cannot be met.

c. A housing element containing an inventory of needs, policies for protection and development of housing for all economic segments of the community and identifying sufficient land for housing.

d. A utilities element consisting of an inventory of needs and policies for the development of utilities and the location, proposed location and capacity of all existing and proposed utilities.

e. A capital facilities element that includes an inventory of all capital facilities, forecast of future needs, proposed location of new or expanded facilities, a six (6) year funding plan and a reassessment of the land use element, if funding falls short.

2. Optional Elements: The Comprehensive Plan may include additional elements, relating to the physical development within the City; including, but not limited to, subarea plans, each of which is consistent with the other elements of the Comprehensive Plan.

3. Land Use Element Map: The land use element map, maintained on display in the customer service area of the Planning/Building/Public Works Department, illustrates in broad and general terms the desired development of the City during the twenty (20) year planning period. (Ord. 4437, 2-21-1994; Amd. Ord. 5153, 9-26-2005)

D. ADOPTION:

The Comprehensive Plan and any amendments and associated subarea plans are adopted by ordinance of the City Council after public hearing by the Council. (Ord. 5153, 9-26-2005; Ord. 5984, 10-26-2020)