Shelton staff outline revised timeline, growth alternatives for comprehensive plan update

At a study session April 8, Shelton Economic Development Director Jay Hill told the City Council the city has a six‑month extension from the state to complete a principal draft of its comprehensive plan and must finish work needed to secure reimbursable grant funding.

Hill said the state legislature granted Shelton a six‑month extension and that the city must submit a “principal draft” to the Washington State Department of Commerce to be reimbursed for consultant work. “We have until December 31 to have it adopted,” Hill said, noting the city plans council adoption on Nov. 18 but has built in time for Commerce’s 60‑day review and any required adjustments.

The principal draft and several supporting elements are being prepared by a steering committee and consultants. Hill described two broad alternatives the city is analyzing: a baseline “no action” scenario and a concentrated growth scenario that centers housing growth in defined residential targeted areas. For the baseline, Hill said the analysis projects growth of “5,850 people…an increase of 2,270 housing units.” For the concentrated alternative he cited a projected increase of “7,401 people” and observed the draft still needs environmental and traffic analyses before a preferred alternative is chosen.

Hill said the update must incorporate recent state legislation including middle‑housing requirements (HB 1181, referenced in the session) and changes tied to climate and transportation metrics. He said the comprehensive plan will also integrate separate transportation, hazard/resilience (climate) and capital facilities work already under way; those subplans feed into the comprehensive plan’s land‑use and transportation chapters.

Hill outlined a public and council review schedule: the steering committee will finish principal drafting in late spring/early summer, the city will hold two joint work sessions with the council and steering committee in August, and the council will publish a notice of intent to adopt in mid‑September before submission to Commerce for review. Hill said Commerce’s 60‑day review will assess compliance with mandatory elements and state law; the city expects to receive Commerce comments well before the end of that period.

Councilmembers asked about planning horizons and grant timing; Hill replied the comprehensive plan is a 20‑year plan with overlapping subcomponent schedules (water, sewer, parks) that are adopted on their own timetables. He also said an environmental impact statement (EIS) will analyze traffic, utilities, schools and other impacts for the alternatives and for a no‑action baseline.

Hill emphasized that the plan will include an implementation chapter with an action matrix identifying priorities, responsible parties and timelines. He said that implementation detail is important for grant eligibility: “If you don't have it in here and we go to ask for a grant, they're gonna say, why isn't it in your comp plan?” Hill said.

The council did not take formal action during the study session; Hill said staff will continue drafting, coordinate with Mason County on urban growth area matters, and return with the principal draft and scheduled work sessions for council consideration.