2024 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update

The City’s Comprehensive Plan is a broad statement of the community’s vision for the future and contains policies primarily to guide the physical development of the City, was well as certain aspects of its social and economic character. The Plan directs regulations, implementation actions and services that support the vision. 

While the Comprehensive Plan is meant to provide a strong and constant vision for the future, it is also a living document that must be able to accommodate change.  Therefore, the City, along with many other cities and counties in Washington state, is required to conduct a major period update of its comprehensive plan and development regulations (ref. RCW 36.70A.130).

Public Engagement

Community engagement is an important part of the comprehensive plan update process. The City, in partnership with LDC and Triangle Associates, developed a Public Involvement Plan to guide the community engagement efforts. By soliciting input from a broad range of stakeholders, the comprehensive plan can better reflect residents’ and workers’ needs, priorities, and aspirations. To understand the engagement strategies that would work best in UP, Triangle Associates conducted interviews with key informants, along with a workshop with City staff, and an interactive study session with the Planning Commission.  

A community survey was hosted online between October 11 and December 4, 2023 and was available in English, Spanish, and Korean. In addition, the City held four in-person survey events to gather verbal feedback, as well as provide opportunities to take the survey online or by paper. The in-person survey events included the City’s Oktoberfest, Christmas Tree Lighting, and Duck Daze events, as well as tabling at the Families Unlimited Network Food Bank and Atrium at City Hall. 

View the Summary of Community Survey Findings here.

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission held over twelve study sessions during their regularly scheduled meetings between 2023 and 2024. The meetings included short briefings, as well as workshops to review amendments to the goals, policies, maps, tables, and general text of the draft Comprehensive Plan update. The Commission reviewed the full draft Plan over the course of two meetings between May 1 and June 5, 2024.

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on June 26, 2024, and voted to recommend the City Council consider approval of the proposed Draft University Place Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update. Click here to view the meeting materials: agenda, staff report and resolution with exhibit A and exhibit B.

City Council

The City Council held a study session on July 15, 2024, to hear an overview of the update process, the approach taken to update the Plan, results of the city’s public engagement efforts, and the Planning Commission’s recommendation. Click here to view the study session materials.

The City Council held a second study session on September 16, 2024, to begin review of the full draft Plan and consider the proposed amendments. Click here to view the study session materials.

The City Council held a third study session on October 7, 2024, to continue reviewing the full draft Plan and consider the proposed amendments. Click here to view the study session materials.

The City Council held a fourth study session on October 21, 2024, to finish reviewing the full draft Plan and consider the proposed amendments. Click here to view the study session materials.

The Public Hearing with the City Council and adoption of the draft Plan was held on December 2, 2024. The City Council adopted the proposed 2024 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update. Click here to view the public hearing materials.