Consultant presents comprehensive plan update: housing, trails and historic preservation top priorities

At the policy and planning session on Jan. 20, Christopher Shers, principal of Confluence, presented an update on the city’s comprehensive plan and zoning code update, summarizing public engagement results and the project timeline.

Shers said the project team conducted stakeholder interviews (27 completed of 32 requested), pop‑up events, an online mapping activity and a well‑attended public input workshop. The engagement consistently highlighted housing availability and affordability (particularly entry‑level and mid‑level single‑family homes), trail and parks expansion, and preserving historic character as top priorities. Shers reported particularly high community ratings for quality of life and community pride.

He described the project as a five‑phase process now entering phase three, with draft chapters to be worked this spring and an 80% draft to be presented at a joint workshop with the planning commission. A public open house and final adoption hearings are expected in late summer, followed by a zoning code update in the fall to align regulations with plan objectives.

Councilors asked about elder care/assisted‑living needs and timeline specifics; Shers said those issues will be included in draft recommendations and noted a plan cross‑check against the prior comprehensive plan to identify what has (and hasn’t) been accomplished.

Next steps: staff and Confluence will finalize draft chapters, present an 80% draft to the council and planning commission in spring, hold a public open house for draft feedback, and proceed to adoption and subsequent zoning code updates later in the year.