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Sequim council advances multi-year rewrite of land-use rules, directs staff to adopt public participation plan
Summary
The Sequim City Council directed staff to include a multi-year, phased public participation plan as part of its comprehensive plan and development-regulation updates, and moved to waive a second-touch review so staff can present a resolution on the consent agenda at the next meeting.
The Sequim City Council moved to adopt a public-participation approach and a phased schedule for updating the city’s comprehensive plan and development regulations, and directed staff to bring a resolution on the participation plan to the consent agenda at the next meeting.
Carla Bowden, the city’s planning consultant, told the council the update will be phased across multiple code titles to align with Growth Management Act requirements and to respond to recent public concern. "The Growth Management Act does set forth at any time that you're going to do, an update to the Comprehensive Plan or Development Regulations that you must establish the development, or you must establish a, public participation plan," Bowden said.
Bowden outlined the proposed phases and topics: a top-to-bottom rewrite of Title 17 (the Subdivision Ordinance) to be renamed the Land Division Ordinance and to capture state-mandated housing-related amendments (scheduled to begin immediately and run into January); a package of Title 18 zoning amendments focused on state housing mandates (including accessory dwelling unit and parking standards) to be drafted with a land-use consultant; companion Title 18 amendments to implement the comprehensive plan (January–June 2026); a full set of remaining Title 18 updates (July 2026–January 2027); and a separate Critical Areas Ordinance to move into Title 16 (environmental code) based on best available science.
A council member moved to waive the second touch on the draft public-participation plan and direct staff to present a resolution on the consent agenda at the next meeting. The motion was seconded and the council approved it with no recorded opposition.
Ending: Council approved moving the participation plan forward, clearing the way for a multi-month public outreach and code-rewrite schedule that staff said would include Planning Commission study sessions, public noticing and hearings as required under state law.
