A Community Development staffer reported to the council on May 27 that Centralia is moving forward on its comprehensive plan update — including land use, climate and transportation elements — and described a compressed public-review and adoption timeline to meet grant and intergovernmental deadlines.

Staff said they planned to transmit the plan and SEPA materials to the Washington Department of Commerce by June 2 for a 60-day review period that would end Aug. 2. A planning commission public hearing is scheduled for June 12 and a council workshop on the draft planned June 10; staff said they hope the council can hold an initial hearing on June 24. Formal adoption requires two ordinance readings after the Department of Commerce review, and staff said the adoption ordinance was expected in August or, if necessary, September.

The urgency stems from grant timing for the city’s climate plan and a county schedule on urban growth area (UGA) processing. Staff explained that Lewis County intends to begin processing UGA land use permits Oct. 1, which requires the city to clarify and simplify its zoning and land-use table so county reviewers interpret regulations consistently. Staff outlined phased zoning amendments focused first on land use tables, industrial zones and parking (June–August), followed by residential and commercial zoning (August–September). Development regulations are due to the state by year-end but staff said the county’s Oct. 1 timeline accelerates some work.

No ordinance was adopted at the May 27 meeting; staff said there have been 17 workshops during the plan update process to date and that the work will continue through public hearings and intergovernmental review. The presentation emphasized public access to materials and invited residents to review the plans online and attend upcoming hearings.

Councilors thanked staff for the work and noted the benefit of clearer zoning for developers and citizens.