Council reviews draft economic development element; staff to revise language and update employer data

The Sedro‑Woolley City Council reviewed a draft update to Chapter 8 (Economic Development) of the city’s comprehensive plan and provided direction to staff for edits and fact checks.

Tom (planning staff) introduced the draft chapter and consultant Donna Kaylor detailed proposed changes: a shortened vision statement, a new transitional mixed commercial overlay proposed as a permanent zoning district, policies to promote downtown placemaking, and incorporation of priorities from the 2024 Economic Development Action Plan. Kaylor also said the draft adds policies on industrial and light manufacturing areas and notes that “new development regulations are underway, on battery storage sites based on the moratorium that you passed last year.”

Council members raised factual updates and wording concerns. Councilman Cook noted outdated content referencing Pioneer Human Services and asked that references be changed to the Star Center on Highway 20. Councilman Lavaca asked staff to review an employer chart and to consider removing or revising policy E2.18, which originally used the word “promote” for language on decarbonization and innovative technologies. Staff and the consultant explained that the Growth Management Act (GMA) and the city’s new climate element require at least one climate‑related policy in other plan elements; the council agreed to replace “promote” with “encourage” to reduce perceived prescriptiveness.

Donna Kaylor said the draft is an early view and that planning commission comments have not yet been fully incorporated; staff asked council members to forward corrections and suggested edits so the element can be cleaned up before publication.

Less critical details: the draft includes initiatives around the SWIFT Center, downtown activation plans and multimodal transportation policies tied to the updated transportation element.