Comprehensive Plan Update FAQs

General

What is a Comprehensive Plan?
A Comprehensive Plan is a long-term planning document that encapsulates the community's visions and goals for the next 20 years.

Shelton's Comprehensive Plan helps manage growth within City limits and the Urban Growth Area (UGA) by providing a framework for guiding City decisions in areas such as housing, transportation, and capital investments.

Our plan helps protect Shelton's character, environment, and economy.
Why do we have to update a Comprehensive Plan?
Comprehensive plans and their updates are required by the Washington State Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70), which is a state law that requires county and local governments to manage growth by adopting and updating comprehensive plans. All cities and counties must comply with Growth Management Act requirements to be eligible for grants and loans from certain state infrastructure programs.

The state Department of Commerce mandates comprehensive plan updates to ensure compliance with new requirements and to better reflect current conditions. Shelton's last comprehensive plan update was completed in 2017, and our next update is due in December 2025. Staying on schedule with periodic updates is important for the City's eligibility for state grants, loans, and other technical assistance to help the City implement the Comprehensive Plan. 
What goes into a Comprehensive Plan?
The Growth Management Act sets standards that require cities to include certain topics (also called elements) in their comprehensive plans. Most of the elements are mandatory, but Shelton has elected to include discretionary elements like the historic preservation element, which seeks to protect Shelton's historic character and landmarks. 

The following table shows the mandatory elements that every Comprehensive Plan must include:

Land Use 

Designates land uses and intensities estimating population growth and expansion with the conservation of resources in mind 

Housing 

Includes inventory and analysis of existing housing conditions, including growth estimates and planned action for protecting community character 

Capital Facilities Plan 

Identifies:
a) current inventory of capital facilities, b) forecast of future needs, c) proposed locations of future facilities, d) at least a six-year financing plan 

Utilities 

Inventory and capacity of all existing and proposed public utilities 

Transportation 

Identifies: a) estimated multimodal Level of Service impacts to state-owned facilities, b) inventory of existing facilities, c) facility and service needs, d) analysis of funding capabilities, e) intergovernmental coordination plans, f) demand management strategies 

Economic Development 

Establishes community goals, objectives, and policies for promoting economic vitality 

Parks and Recreation 

Includes: a) estimates of park and recreation demand over ten year period, b) evaluation of facility and service needs, c) evaluation of tree canopy coverage in Urban Growth Area, d) evaluation of intergovernmental coordination opportunities 

Climate Change and Resiliency 

New as of 2023. Analysis of capacity to handle climate resilience. Must be consistent with and implement a Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan 
What new items do we need to consider in this Comprehensive Plan update?
In the 2022 legislative session, major investments were made in the Growth Management Act, including new requirements for cities and counties to include in their next comprehensive plan updates, summarized below:

HB 1220 

Jurisdictions must plan for and accommodate, rather than encourage the availability of, emergency and affordable housing 

HB 1241 

Changes the Periodic update and SMP cycles from 8 to 10 years. Requires a 5-year implementation progress report and an annual work program for select jurisdictions 

HB 1717 

New regulations for cities and counties to include local and regional tribes in planning processes and decisions 

HB 2001 

Expands the ability to build tiny houses 

SB 5042 

Changes the initial effective date of certain actions under the GMA 

SB 5118 

Supports successful reentry for juveniles, amending the definition of “essential public facilities” 

SB 5235 

Increasing housing unit inventory by removing arbitrary limits on housing 

SB 5275 

Enhances opportunity in LAMIRDs 

SB 5368 

Encourages rural economic development 

SB 5593 

Allows a county to make revisions to a UGA boundary to accommodate patterns of development 

SB 5818 

Promoting housing construction in cities through amendments to and limiting appeals under SEPA and GMA 
What is the project timeline?
Project Phases
Project Setup
  • 1.1) Kickoff
  • 1.2) Monthly Progress report
Understanding
  • 2.1) Demographics report
  • 2.2) Policy framework
  • 2.3) Comprehensive plan engagement schedule
Comprehensive plan update
  • 3.1) Projections and land use needs analysis
  • 3.2) GMA checklist
  • 3.3) Vision: Applied
  • 3.4) Plan drafting
  • 3.5) Implementation
  • 3.6) Zoning amendments
SEPA Consultation
  • 4.1) Background and scoping
  • 4.2) Preparing the EIS
  • 4.3) Preparing the FEIS
What's currently happening with the update?
How does the City of Shelton engage with the public about long-range planning?

Stakeholder calls - The City and its contractor, SCJ Alliance, meet with various community stakeholders such as local nonprofits, community organizations, and businesses to ask how the next comprehensive plan could help them reach their goals. A representative variety of voices is helpful to achieve a broader picture of Shelton's strengths and challenges to be addressed by the comprehensive plan.

Public engagement activities - At public events, look out for City of Shelton booths seeking your feedback! Here's a summary of feedback we've received at public engagement activities recently:
Big Ideas Board - July 19 and 27 Pearl Poll - July 27

Opportunities for Public Engagement
  • Look for the City booth at community events like the Shelton Farmers Market
  • Read proposed Comprehensive Plan documents
  • Attend public meetings and hearings
  • Provide written comments during comment periods
Where can I find more information about comprehensive planning in Washington state?