Summary

Schedule for Comprehensive Plan Update includes special night meeting

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King County is preparing for a major update to the King County Comprehensive Plan, the set of policies that manage growth in unincorporated King County and provides guidance on regional issues and services. The Metropolitan King County Council’s Transportation, Economy and Environment (TrEE) Committee is releasing their schedule for the Committee’s review of the proposal sent to the Council by the County Executive.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues and hearing from the public as we begin review the Executive’s proposed 2016 comprehensive plan update over the coming months,” said Council Vice Chair Rod Dembowski, who is the TrEE Committee Chair and will lead the Comprehensive Plan update. “We intend to hold a thoughtful and open process for all members of the community to learn more about and comment on the proposal.”

The TrEE Committee will begin its review of the Comp Plan on Tuesday, March 15, and will hold briefings on specific aspects of the plan at committee meetings in April, May, June and July.

Public testimony will be taken at these committee meetings following each briefing on the plan. These are daytime meetings held at 9:30 a.m. in the Council chambers on the 10th floor of the King County Courthouse.

The County Council’s Committee of the Whole will also host a special night meeting on Wednesday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m. to take public testimony on the proposed Comp Plan update. The location for the meeting is:

“It’s important that county residents attend the hearings and briefings referenced in this timeline,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert, chair of the Committee of the Whole. “The County’s Comp Plan directly impacts the unincorporated areas and citizens need to know what changes are proposed. If people can’t attend, the meetings can be viewed at www.kingcounty.gov/KCTV.”

Residents can also submit written testimony online by visiting the King County Council’s Comprehensive Plan website.

The King County Executive transmitted his proposed 2016 Comprehensive Plan Update to the County Council on March 1. Development of the proposed plan was informed by public input, which included issuance of a Public Review Draft of the proposed plan, multiple community meetings held throughout the County, and a several month long public comment period.

The TrEE Committee is scheduled to complete its recommendation by July 19. A hearing before the full King County Council is anticipated to occur on September 6, with final adoption of the 2016 Comprehensive Plan Update expected on September 12, 2016.

The King County Comprehensive Plan guides growth and development in the unincorporated areas of King County and sets county policy on major issues such as annexations, transportation, and the environment.

The Comprehensive Plan is required by the State Growth Management Act that was adopted in the early 1990s. Technical changes to the plan can be made once a year, with major plan updates conducted every four years. The first major review occurred in 2000, followed by reviews in 2004, 2008 and 2012.