Duval council keeps comprehensive plan record open while awaiting Commerce comments; public outreach detailed

Duval — City planners presented a near-final draft of Duval’s comprehensive plan periodic update at the June 3 council meeting and asked council to keep the public record open while the city awaits formal comments from the Washington State Department of Commerce.

Senior planner Naomi (last name in packet) detailed two years of outreach including a public survey, steering committee meetings, two open houses, an Earth Day table, podcasts and printed materials. The update package covers the standard comprehensive plan elements — land use, housing, parks/trails/open space, economic development, transportation, capital facilities and environment — and includes a new parks and trails master plan the city recently completed.

Planning staff said the draft plan incorporates public feedback and state-required components such as population and land-use allocations. Staff noted one technical correction to a future land-use designation (a property with apartments and some mobile homes) and recommended retaining a mobile-home-park designation rather than converting that parcel to a standard residential category.

The planning commission will formally consider a recommendation at its June 11 meeting; staff said the earliest council adoption could occur is the June 17 meeting after planning commission recommendation and resolution. The record will remain open for Department of Commerce comments before final adoption.

Council members appreciated the outreach materials and the multiple engagement formats used to reach residents. Staff said printed and online copies of the draft are available and citizens may submit written comments to the city clerk for the official record.