Ordinance 2021-94 - Laserfiche WebLink

1 le FIN4L DRAFT I City of Everett I Growth Management Comprehensive Plan May 31, 1994 IIntroduction I Why Are We Preparing a New Comprehensive Plan? Everett, like other cities and counties in Washington, is preparing a new comprehensive plan as required by the Growth Management Act (GMA). GMA requires that certain jurisdictions adopt comprehensive plans containing elements addressing Land I Use, Transportation, Housing, Capital Facilities, and Utilities. Everett is also preparing elements addressing Urban Design and Historic Preservation, Economic Development, and Parks and Recreation. 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 I 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 will consist 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 I how Everett will grow, look and operate in the future. The City will also adopt a new Zoning Map at the same time that the comprehensive plan is adopted to ensure that zoning districts are consistent with 011) the land use designations of the plan. The Zoning Code development standards will be revised in a separate action and public review process following adoption of the comprehensive plan. I 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. 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 I to carry out the policies. The mandatory elements listed in the GMA are Land Use, Housing, Capital Facilities, Utilities, and Transportation. Optional elements which Everett is including are Urban Design and Historic Preservation, Parks and Recreation, and Economic Development. I 2. City of Everett Municipal Code: Section 2.20.110 of the Everett Municipal Code requires the City to have a comprehensive plan consisting of a land use plan, arterial plan, and a park and I recreational plan. It makes other elements optional, including a public utilities plan, public building plan, housing plan, a redevelopment/blight elimination plan, capital improvement plan, and "such other elements as are essential or desirable to coordinate public service, to complete Iprograms for physical, social and economic development of the city."