Council moves 2025 comprehensive plan update to April action agenda after public hearing

Shelton's City Council opened a public hearing on March 17, 2026 and heard a presentation on the city's 2025 comprehensive plan update before voting to move Ordinance 2038-1025 to the April 21 action agenda.

Interim community and economic development director Jason Doss summarized the plan and state requirements, saying the update was overdue and responding to new legislation. He told the council the state now requires planning ‘‘for all income levels’’ (House Bill 1220) and will require cities to allow two accessory dwelling units on residential lots under House Bill 1337; the draft also adds a new climate resilience element required by House Bill 1181.

Doss said the plan proposes a resurrected multifamily zone, residential target areas to encourage infill and affordable housing, and code incentives such as reduced setbacks and tax exemptions to encourage middle housing. He described the plan as the policy framework that zoning and code changes will implement over the coming months.

The council read the ordinance at the meeting and moved it to the April 21 action agenda following the close of the Department of Commerce's review period; the public hearing was then closed. No public testimony was recorded at the hearing that night.

The council and staff said they expect subsequent code amendments to implement the comprehensive plan to take several months, with a package of code changes and study sessions to follow adoption.

What happens next: the ordinance will appear on the council's April 21 action agenda for further consideration and possible adoption; staff said final EIS materials and any required edits will be shared with the council before that meeting.