Milton holds public hearing on GMA-related comprehensive plan and Title 17 zoning updates

Planning Manager Stalnecker opened the council’s public hearing on the Growth Management Act (GMA) comprehensive plan elements and accompanying Title 17 zoning amendments, describing the two remaining Volume 2 elements—transportation and capital facilities and utilities—and the related zoning map and code changes.

“These are the remaining 2 elements out of volume 2,” Planning Manager Stalnecker said, explaining that the updates incorporate inventories of existing facilities, forecasts of future needs, and planned capital improvements and that staff had aligned the zoning map to match the updated future land-use categories. Stalnecker noted two new zones proposed in the draft: “neighborhood commercial” and “uptown mixed use,” and said the Taylor Street corridor was proposed to be reclassified as a minor arterial to improve grant eligibility.

The nut graf: The draft updates respond to state GMA requirements and agency comments and would rewrite parts of Title 17 to match the new plan policies. The draft was recommended by the planning commission (4–0), and council opened the public hearing to collect testimony before further study and a vote at a later meeting.

Public comment focused on the proposed rezoning of a small parcel near Taylor Street and on lot-width and middle-housing provisions. Susan Johnson, a Milton resident, thanked staff and urged council to adopt required state changes while “trying to keep our sort of, semi-urban feel.” Two property owners raised objections after learning a parcel they had targeted for a contractor yard and vehicle/contractor parking would be rezoned to Uptown Mixed Use; William Henry told council the change had reduced the property’s marketability and said, “We bought a property...because it was zoned industrial. Changing the zoning now is detrimental to us.” Another commenter, Sawyer Solomon, pointed to uncertainty about whether the UMX zone would allow their planned use.

Staff clarified that the property at the Taylor/Meridian corner has land-use approvals from 2022–2023 that have since lapsed because required final steps and building permits were not completed; Planning Manager Stalnecker said the project “has expired” and that, while a one-year extension may be possible under past precedents, the draft zoning change would not allow the contractor-yard use going forward.

Council and staff discussed policy tradeoffs raised by commenters and councilmembers: balancing neighborhood character, grant and transportation strategies tied to the arterial reclassification of Taylor Street, and the potential for small-scale infill and accessory dwelling units under new state law. Councilmember Cedar urged attention to blending new multifamily and mixed-use development into neighborhoods, and staff and the consultant said some agency comments are still incoming and that staff expects to incorporate appropriate changes prior to final adoption.

No ordinance or code amendments were adopted at the meeting. The public hearing was opened at 7:22 p.m. and closed at 7:27 p.m.; staff said the draft will return for further study and for council consideration at upcoming study-session and regular meetings.

Ending: Council directed staff to return with any clarifying responses to agency comments and with items flagged for further discussion at a study session next week; formal action on adoption was not taken at this meeting.