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Final comprehensive plan work session trims goals; transportation, economic development and utilities discussed
Summary
The City Council completed its final comprehensive plan work session May 20, with staff and consultants presenting streamlined draft goals and policies for Transportation, Economic Development and Utilities and scheduling a public draft for July 1.
The Lacey City Council on May 20 completed a final work session on the city's comprehensive plan, hearing staff and consultant presentations on draft goals and policies for the Transportation, Economic Development and Utilities elements and offering direction for revisions before a July public draft release.
Consultant Dan Grajewski and city planners summarized a condensed approach that reduces the transportation element from about 20 goals and 120 policies to six goals and roughly 35 policies. The package emphasizes a multimodal network, safety, land‑use coordination, sustainability, context‑sensitive corridor design and economic growth.
On transportation, staff proposed adopting multimodal level‑of‑service measures that include walking, bicycling, transit access and freight mobility in addition to vehicle measures. Dan described a "level of traffic stress" concept for bicycles and said the city will continue vehicle level‑of‑service standards and traffic impact analyses while adding multimodal metrics to better reflect user comfort.
Safety policies incorporate the Safe System approach, access management to reduce conflict points (for example, consolidating excessive driveways on commercial corridors) and expanded Safe Routes to School priorities, including partnerships with transit for student biking and walking education. Council members urged that Safe Routes to School be a higher priority and asked staff to ensure the pedestrian and bicycle plan projects (many of which already prioritize school routes) are reflected in the implementation program.
The economic development discussion emphasized customer service for local businesses, workforce partnerships, small business and entrepreneurship support (including night markets, food truck initiatives and makerspace partnerships) and place‑making for vibrant commercial districts. Council members suggested stronger language to recruit indoor attractions, support BIPOC‑ and veteran‑owned businesses and to coordinate with the Port of Olympia and other regional partners to leverage trade and incubator opportunities.
On utilities, planners recommended retaining proven policies, removing completed programs (for example, an earlier systemwide leak detection program), and adding new language on greenhouse gas reduction through efficient water and wastewater infrastructure. Staff also proposed coordinating regionally on regulations for emerging technologies such as battery energy storage, noting safety and siting issues that require consistent rules across jurisdictions.
Staff said Planning Commission review is complete, the Commission on Equity will review policies June 2, and the city intends to publish a consolidated draft comprehensive plan by July 1 for public comment with public hearings and final adoption targeted before the December 31, 2025 statutory deadline.
Council members and staff praised broad community engagement and asked staff to refine language on priorities for sidewalks and school routes, solid waste/collection contract review and utility cost‑reduction strategies to support households and businesses. Staff said those refinements would be incorporated into the July draft.
