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Council moves comprehensive‑plan update to second reading and directs staff to add Judson Park rezone request
Summary
The City Council held a public hearing on the periodic comprehensive‑plan update required by the Growth Management Act. After public comment the council voted to add a Judson Park request to the comp plan and moved the draft ordinance to a second reading; the amendment to include the Judson Park rezone passed 4‑2, and the ordinance was advanced to
The Des Moines City Council held a public hearing Sept. 11 on the city’s decennial comprehensive‑plan update — required under the state Growth Management Act (GMA) and accompanied by a SEPA review — and voted to advance the draft ordinance to a second reading while directing staff to incorporate a specific Judson Park land‑use request.
Community Development Director Rebecca Deming summarized the update and said the packet included redlined chapters and noted that Commerce and the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) had provided review comments on the housing element after earlier study sessions. Deming said the SEPA comment period closed Aug. 28.
Jonathan Boyer, executive director of Judson Park Retirement Community, told the council Judson Park owns adjacent parcels — now identified as single‑family houses — and seeks a land‑use map amendment that would allow institutional campus development to expand senior housing and care services on parcels north of its campus.
After public testimony the council considered motions. Council members debated whether to include the Judson Park map amendment during the annual comprehensive‑plan amendment cycle or to require a separate rezoning step; staff explained a comprehensive‑plan map change at this time would allow Judson Park to apply for a simultaneous rezone and project permitting rather than waiting for the next one‑time annual comp‑plan amendment cycle.
Council voted on a motion directing staff to incorporate the Judson Park rezone request into the draft comprehensive plan. The motion passed 4‑2. Those recorded voting in favor were Deputy Mayor Steinmetz, Council Member Grace Matsui, Council Member Mahoney and Mayor Buxton; Council Member Ochsiger and Council Member Harris voted against the motion. The council then voted to pass the draft ordinance to a second reading; that vote carried unanimously as recorded in the meeting.
Deming told the council staff had prepared an amended map exhibit for the record should the council choose to include the Judson Park amendment. She also noted that the comprehensive plan is a high‑level policy document and that any rezoning and project permitting would follow the comp‑plan amendment.
Ending: The draft comprehensive‑plan ordinance was advanced for a second reading; staff will prepare the amended exhibit for the record and will process any subsequent rezone and permitting requests per city code.
