2016 Comprehensive Plan Update for the Lacey Urban Growth Area - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

2016 Comprehensive Plan Update for the Lacey Urban Growth Area

Comprehensive Plan Update: Background

• Since 2009, the City has been updating elements of it’s Comprehensive Plan

to comply with June 30, 2016 mandated deadline.

• First draft of Land Use Element released in 2013.
• Updated draft released in 2015 based on community feedback.
• Draft Comprehensive Plan Update includes:

– Land Use Element* – Economic Development Element – Environmental Element (including CR2 Plan) – Housing Element* – Utilities Element* – Regional Sustainability Plan – JBLM/JLUS – Incorporates all other elements * = Joint Planning Elements with Thurston County as per County Wide Planning Policies and agreements signed in early 1990’s.

Document Framework

• The Comprehensive Plan is an extensive re‐write of the

existing plan (last full update was 2003).

• The update improves clarity, readability, and structure.
• Articulates the community vision and identifies

strategic actions with a focus on implementation, including:

– Identification of core topics, current trends, and emerging issues – Goals and policies – Specific strategic implementation actions

• The primary focus of the update was to the Land Use

Element of the Comprehensive Plan specific to the Lacey Urban Growth Area (UGA).

Lacey Urban Growth Area

Lacey City Limits

• 16.86 square miles
• 2015 population: 42,390

Unincorporated Urban Growth Area

• 16.41 square miles
• 2015 population: 33,170

Lacey Urban Growth Area Total

• 33.27 square miles
• 2015 population: 75,560

History of Lacey UGA

• Established in 1988 by Thurston County Board of

County Commissioners as “short” and “long” term growth boundaries.

• 1988 boundaries used in BOCC adoption of 1993 Urban

Growth Area under GMA.

• UGA was established, considering:

– Pre‐existing development patterns – Developed and vested residential development sites – Existing land use designations – Environmental protection for Woodland Creek and groundwater within the McAllister Springs Geologically Sensitive Area.

1990 Aerial Photo North Unincorporated UGA

Thompson Place Tanglewilde Tanglewilde East Meadows Mountain Aire Meridian Acres Mushroom Corner

1990 Aerial Photo South Unincorporated UGA

Capitol City Estates Lake Forest McAllister Park Seasons Tri Lake

• What has changed in the last 25 years?

– Large unincorporated UGA with available land resources and large, vested residential developments. – Unincorporated UGA has limited commercial and economic development

• pportunities.

– Unincorporated UGA is projected to see most new residential units in the next planning horizon. – Most larger greenfield development sites in the City have been developed or will be developed in the next planning horizon. – Within the city, development will shift from greenfield to infill development pattern.

Land Use Element

The Community Vision

The Community Vision

• Create a community of diverse and vibrant

neighborhoods that contain a mixture of uses, housing types, convenient commercial

• pportunities, schools, parks and open

spaces.

• Ensure a diversification of employment
• pportunities in Lacey so Lacey residents can

work, live, shop and play all within close proximity.

• Focus growth to targeted areas for infill to

conserve vacant buildable land at the periphery of the unincorporated UGA, increase density for areas with a range of transportation alternatives, and conserve resources related to extension of infrastructure.

• Ensure a coordinated street system that

encourages all modes of transportation.

Envision Lacey—Outreach

Outreach—What We Heard

• Questions on population and employment

projections

• Need to balance growth with quality of life
• Concerns over higher density
• Wages higher in King County for same job in

Thurston County

• Transportation issues
• Better inter‐jurisdictional coordination
• Plan for an aging population
• Increased public access to lakes

Key Issues for Unincorporated UGA

• “Agriculture” zones
• Joint Planning & Coordination
• Diversity of housing types
• Urban holding areas
• Martin Way
• Transportation
• Septic Systems

Joint Planning and Coordination

• Joint planning is required

by CWPP’s and previous MOU’s.

• Development

regulations need to be updated regularly to implement Comprehensive Plan.

• Consistency of

development regulations between jurisdictions.

• Ensure housing diversity

in residential zones and consider amending density standards for Moderate and High Density Residential.

• Gateway Division 2

Urban Holding Areas

• Explore designating “urban

holding areas” within Pleasant Glade and McAllister Geologically Sensitive Area for areas without sewer service.

• If sewer extension is not likely in

the next 20 years, the property should be considered for removal from the UGA until sewer service became available.

• Would need to be done in

conjunction with a robust public participation campaign.

Martin Way

• Implement recommendations of TRPC’s Urban Corridor

Taskforce.

• Re‐examine Mixed Use High Density Corridor

development standards to ensure regulations reflect the vision.

• Future sub‐area planning to add greater detail, guidance

and predictability for future development.

Transportation

• Ensure transportation infrastructure:

– Adequately serves existing residents – Are improved when necessary to keep pace with growth projections – Provide for a full range of transportation options

• Ensure coordination and consistency between

Lacey’s and Thurston County’s Transportation Elements.

Unincorporated UGA Septic Issues

• Regional Septic Summit
• Largest areas of concern

for ground and surface water protection in north Thurston County is Unincorporated Lacey UGA.

• Most areas of septic

developed in the 1960’s and 70’s and are adjacent to the city limits.

• Proposed policy would

require sewer to all new development to increase density, protect groundwater resources, and ensure land supply is developed to its potential.

• Require septic systems

that have failed to connect to city sewer.

Review of Key Issues

• “Agriculture” zones
• Joint Planning & Coordination
• Diversity of housing types
• Urban holding areas
• Martin Way
• Transportation
• Septic Systems

Next Steps

• Preparation of final draft Comprehensive Plan for

adoption

• Issuance of Environmental Impact Statement

– Determination of Significance and Scoping issued January 26th – Meeting to take public comment held on February 16th

• Lacey Planning Commission public hearing in spring
• Lacey City Council adoption by June 30, 2016
• Final review by Thurston County Planning Commission

and adoption by Board of County Commissioners