Ordinance 2978-07 - Laserfiche WebLink

EVERETT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION I. Why Are We Amending the Comprehensive Plan? Everett adopted its first Comprehensive Plan under the Growth Management Act (GMA) in 1994. Since that time, Everett has completed yearly updates to the Plan. Development regulations have also been updated over time to implement the Plan. The Growth Management Act allows the yearly updates of the Plan and establishes a schedule for comprehensive review and update of the Plan. This amendment meets the requirements for the 10-year comprehensive review and update. Following this update, the comprehensive review and update must occur every seven years. The purpose of the comprehensive plan is to guide growth for the next twenty years by defining the levels and spatial distribution of population and job growth; the transportation, utilities and public facilities to serve the desired level of population and employment; the housing requirements for the community; methods to pay for necessary transportation, utilities and public facilities; and the desired physical character of growth in the city. The plan consists of a Land Use Map designating the desired use of lands for various activities, and policies to guide government and private decision makers in determining how Everett will grow, look and operate in the future. The City will also amend the Zoning Map soon after the comprehensive plan amendments are adopted to ensure that zoning districts are consistent with the land use designations of the plan. The Zoning Code development standards and other development regulations will also be revised over time to implement the comprehensive plan. A. Legal requirements for the Comprehensive Plan. The following summarizes why Everett is legally required to adopt a comprehensive plan. 1. Growth Management Act The Growth Management Act (GMA), adopted by the Washington State Legislature in 1990, established specific requirements for local governments to adopt a comprehensive plan. Some of the requirements have changed over time as the legislature amended the Act. Comprehensive Plans are required to contain several "elements," or topic areas. For each element, cities and counties are required to adopt policies and develop programs to carry out the policies. The mandatory elements listed in the GMA are Land Use, Housing, Capital Facilities, Utilities, and Transportation. Economic Development and Parks and Recreation elements will become mandatory when funding for their preparations is provided to local governments by the state. Optional elements that Everett is including are Urban Design and Historic Preservation, Parks and Recreation, and Economic Development. 2. City of Everett Municipal Code Section 2.20.100 of the Everett Municipal Code requires the City to have a comprehensive plan that complies with the requirements of state law. The plan must include a land use plan, transportation plan, a housing element, a capital facilities plan, a park and recreation plan, a public utilities plan, and an economic development element. Optional elements include a public INTRODUCTION 1