Planning staff outlines compressed timeline to adopt Leavenworth comprehensive plan by Dec. 31

Allison Miller, Chair of the Leavenworth Planning Commission, convened the meeting and opened a presentation on the comprehensive-plan update. Staff member said the commission should expect a draft within the next two weeks and that the goal is to recommend a plan to city council that could have an effective date of December 31. "The goal is to have the draft in the next 2 weeks completed and still try to move forward with at least a hearing," the staff member said.

Commissioners discussed the regulatory schedule that follows plan adoption. The planner emphasized that development regulations require a separate 60-day review period and that the development-regs timeline is driving the compressed calendar: if the commission does not complete its hearings and recommendations in time, the city could lose grant funding opportunities tied to adopting the development regulations. Commissioners asked for spreadsheets and supporting documentation; staff said those materials would be shared ahead of the next meeting so commissioners can track which public and agency comments were considered. The commission did not take formal action on the plan at this meeting and staff said additional drafts and hearings will follow prior to any formal recommendation to council.

The commission also previewed related rezoning work: staff is proposing two new zoning categories tied to the comprehensive-plan changes and the R3 infill zone will be discussed in detail at an upcoming meeting. Commissioners said they expect to see targeted outreach and materials that illustrate potential lot-size, setback and height changes before formal recommendations are made.