Lacey planners report heavy outreach, transportation and housing top community priorities in comp plan survey

Ryan Andrews, the Community Planning Manager in Lacey’s Community and Economic Development Department, presented results of the city’s comprehensive‑plan outreach and next steps at the Jan. 27 Commission on Equity meeting.

Andrews told commissioners the city reached about 45,000 direct community contacts through events, social media and mailings and that the online survey drew nearly 400 participants. ‘‘Our total outreach to date through all of our different survey channels and and events and those kinds of things, 45000 direct community contacts,’’ Andrews said. The survey was offered in English, Spanish and Vietnamese and staff added five $100 gift‑card incentives late in the outreach to boost participation.

The survey and related outreach showed transportation infrastructure and connectivity as the single highest community priority, followed by public health, safety and social services, and affordable housing and urban development. Andrews said common transportation requests included improved sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes and more accessible, walkable neighborhoods. On health and social services the survey returned repeated comments about homelessness, mental‑health services and emergency response.

Andrews summarized a geo‑budgeting exercise that asked respondents to allocate projected growth—about 20,000 additional residents over 20 years, the city estimates—into housing types and commercial locations. The exercise used a budget equivalent of 8,250 new homes and about 9,000 new jobs and showed residents favoring mixed‑use and multifamily closer to the city core (around City Hall, South Sound Center and the Midtown area) while detached housing responses clustered north of I‑5. Commercial and light industrial preferences were concentrated around the Meridian/Cabela’s (Hawkes Prairie) area and Queenmouth Village sites.

Staff said the geo‑budgeting results will help shape three land‑use alternatives for the plan: a status‑quo map, a residential‑focused alternative and a commercial‑focused alternative. Andrews asked commissioners to spread the word about a community open house scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 12, 6–8 p.m., in the same room; staff said the open house is the final large public engagement opportunity before drafting plan elements.

Andrews outlined the update timeline: staff will draft plan elements concurrent with planning commission and city council review through spring and summer, with city council adoption required by Dec. 31, 2025. He said staff intends to return to the Commission on Equity with a draft for review in late spring.

Why it matters: the comprehensive plan directs long‑term zoning, transportation and infrastructure decisions. Staff emphasized transportation and housing tradeoffs raised by the public, and that outreach results will inform Lacey’s future land‑use map and policy choices rather than create immediate regulatory changes.

Closing note: Andrews encouraged commissioners to attend the Feb. 12 open house and to expect a return briefing from staff when draft goals and policies are available.