Lacey presents web-based comprehensive-plan overhaul after two-year outreach campaign

Lacey planning staff and the planning commission presented the final stages of a two-year comprehensive-plan update at the Nov. 25 work session, emphasizing a new web-based, searchable policy database and extensive public outreach.

Vanessa Dolby, community economic development director, said the update aims to be readable and usable, reflect the community's vision and meet Growth Management Act requirements. "This plan establishes the road map for policy direction guiding the city into the future," she said. Planning-commission chair Jeff Gadmin said commissioners reviewed the draft closely and unanimously recommended adoption with a few targeted modifications.

Staff said they received roughly 60,000 community contacts during the process, used multiple online engagement tools (story maps, GIS-based mapping comments, Veil discussion platforms) and processed 52 community-initiated rezone requests, advancing nine where staff and the commission judged the proposal aligned with the plan goals. Among the technical changes, staff proposed decoupling the zoning map from the future land-use map to make the future land-use map a simpler, more visionary tool while keeping zoning as the operational implementation document.

The update adds new required elements, including greenhouse-gas emissions and climate resiliency language, and the draft includes new transportation policies. Staff noted the Washington State Department of Commerce's 60-day review window is active and that Commerce and TRPC feedback led to edits to the transportation element, including adding vehicle-miles-traveled targets and low-stress bike-route guidance. Staff said the council will consider an ordinance adopting the comp plan on Dec. 16 and will then submit the package to the state; an appeal period to the growth-management hearings board will follow.

Next steps: staff will finalize website materials and address the Department of Commerce and TRPC comments prior to the Dec. 16 council adoption vote.