Council works on plan

SHORELINE — City Council members began identifying issues for future discussion of updates to theComprehensive Plan, which is targeted for completion by the end of February, at the Jan. 31 meeting.

Out of 621 policies identified, members forged their way through more than 140 topics, circling some in red for later discussion, and quickly approving minor changes recommended by the Planning Commission. Many plan updates involve clarifying ambiguous wording.

“I think the Planning Commission recommendations should be adopted with a few exceptions,” planning director Tim Stewart advised the Council.

Stewart said city staff have reviewed the more than 600 policies in the plan, as well as the planning commission and residents.

Stewart explained that the process to update the comprehensive plan was discussed in 2003, after the original plan was adopted in 1998. In May of 2004, a draft update plan was released to the public.

In September, the Planning Commission held three consecutive nights of public hearing on the plans, and in November, the Planning Commission agreed to forward their suggested recommendations to the Council. On Nov. 8, the Council adopted a resolution to extend the time line for adoption, from Dec. 1 to February 2005.

City staff recently created a matrix that indicates the proposed policy, the comments received and staff response to the comments.

Blocks of time have also been set aside for deliberation on the plans for Feb. 7 and Feb. 22. Target adoption date is Feb. 28.

Council member Maggie Fimia proposed additional public comment, and suggested a Feb. 14 hearing, which was unanimously passed by Council members.

The Council also approved a motion, proposed by Fimia, for the Council to meet with SnoKing Environmental Council members, who wanted additional time to deliberate on items in the plan.

“I would like a sanction by Council to organize meetings,” Fimia said. “I would schedule some time for SnoKing, Planning Commission and Council.”