Bellevue’s Comprehensive Plan is a foundational policy document, guiding growth and development here for a 20-year span. The City Council adopted the current plan in 2015 (agenda memo). The maps, goals and policies of the plan provide the basis for Bellevue's regulations, programs and services. Comprehensive Plan Story Map
The city significantly updates the Comprehensive Plan about every 10 years, and we are in the process of drafting the 2024 update. Bellevue 2044, as it's called, will guide Bellevue's development through 2044. Substantial updates like this are called "periodic" updates, to distinguish them from minor annual amendments related to specific properties.
Details and avenues for participating are available at Engaging Bellevue. Bellevue 2044 is undergoing environmental review through an environmental impact statement.
The current Comprehensive Plan is organized into two volumes. Volume 1 has background information about Bellevue and the community vision for the future, along with goals for elements such as housing, transportation, human services and parks. Volume 2 contains goals and policies of the subarea (or neighborhood area) plans.
2024 Update Timeline
The City Council initiated work on the Comprehensive Plan update on Feb. 28, 2022. This update is planned for adoption by June of 2024. Participate in the update at Engaging Bellevue. Questions and comments can be sent to CompPlan2044@bellevuewa.gov. A summary of public comments received so far will be posted when compiled.
Timeline
| Date | Event | Links | |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 8, 2023 (planned) | Planning Commission | Planning Commission Calendar | |
| Discuss update to Introduction & Vision chapter | |||
| October 25, 2023 (planned) | Planning Commission | Planning Commission Calendar | |
| Review updates to key policy areas in Housing and Human Services elements | |||
| October 11, 2023 (planned) | Planning Commission | Planning Commission Calendar | |
| Review updates to key policy areas in Land Use and Neighborhood elements | |||
| September 27, 2023 (planned) | Planning Commission | Planning Commission Calendar | |
| Review updates to key policy areas in Economic Development, Engagement, Transportation, and Urban Design & the Arts elements | |||
| September 13, 2023 | Planning Commission | Planning Commission Calendar | |
| Review updates to key policy areas in Capital Facilities, Environment, Parks, Recreation & Open Space, and Utilities elements | |||
| July 24, 2023 | City Council | Meeting Materials | |
| Directed the study of a Preferred Alternative in FEIS | |||
| July 17, 2023 | City Council | Meeting Materials | |
| Reviewed Planning Commission's recommended Preferred Alternative | |||
| June 28, 2023 | Planning Commission | Meeting Materials | |
| Recommended a Preferred Alternative to be studied in the FEIS | |||
| June 21, 2023 | Planning Commission | Meeting Materials | |
| Discussed a Preferred Alternative to be studied in the FEIS | |||
| June 14, 2023 | Planning Commission | Meeting Materials | |
| Discussed analysis of alternatives in the DEIS and other analyses | |||
| June 14, 2023 | Release of Racially Disparate Impact Analysis | Link to Analysis | |
| Release of Economic Analysis | Link to Analysis | ||
| May 10, 2023 | Planning Commission | Meeting Materials | |
| Discussed the alternatives in the DEIS | |||
| April 27 - June 12, 2023 | DEIS Public Comment Period | ||
| May 18, 2023 | Virtual Public Meeting | ||
| May 23, 2023 | Public Meeting | ||
| June 1, 2023 | Public Meeting | ||
| April 27, 2023 | Release of Draft EIS | EIS website | |
| The release of the DEIS was followed by a 45-day comment period. | |||
| April 26, 2023 | Planning Commission | Meeting Materials | |
| Reviewed the Draft EIS | |||
| April 24, 2023 | City Council | Meeting materials | |
| An update on the progress of the 2044 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update was provided. | |||
| Mar. 23, 2023 | Housing Forum - Virtual Lunch & Learn | Event Materials | |
| Mar. 21, 2023 | Housing Forum - Discussion | ||
| Mar. 18, 2023 | Housing Forum - Drop-in | ||
| Feb. 23, 2023 | Planning Commission | PowerPoint & Commission Materials | |
| Overview of EIS process. | |||
| Dec. 12, 2022 | City Council | PowerPoint & Council Materials | |
| The City Council received a written briefing updating them on the progress of the project and highlighting the EIS process. | |||
| Sep. 29-Oct. 31, 2022 | Environmental Review Scoping Public Comment Period | Scoping Notice and Materials | |
| Draft growth alternatives and the scope of analysis proposed were released for public comment. | |||
| Fall 2022 | Missing Middle Housing Questionnaire | Questionnaire Report | |
| A questionnaire was released to inform what types of mid-scale housing community members are interested in seeing in different parts of the city. | |||
| Sep. 28, 2022 | Planning Commission | PowerPoint & Commission Materials | |
| An update was provided to the Planning Commission on the engagement to date and the scope of expected updates to policies throughout the plan. | |||
| Summer 2022 | Phase 2a: Community Deep Dives | Phase 2a Report | |
| July 14 | Environment | Presentation & Boards | |
| Aug. 3 | Connection | Presentation & Boards | |
| Aug. 24 | Access | Presentation & Boards | |
| Sep. 15 | Housing | Presentation & Boards | |
| Spring 2022 | Phase 1 Community Engagement | Phase 1 Report | |
| Spring | Visioning Questionnaire | ||
| March 22, 2022 | Community Vision Event: This online event gave an overview of the periodic update process and participants discussed areas where Bellevue is fulfilling its vision and where it can do better. | Presentation & Notes | |
| March 9, 2022 | Planning Commission | PowerPoint & Commission Materials | |
| The scope of the update was introduced to Planning Commission. No action was taken. | |||
| February 28, 2022 | City Council | PowerPoint and Council Materials | |
| Council directed staff to begin work on the Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update. |
2024 Update Community Engagement
Upcoming community engagement events and online engagement opportunities are hosted on EngagingBellevue.com. Below is a summary of past engagement phases and survey results with links to reports of those phases and the survey. All individual event materials can be found on EngagingBellevue.com.
Results of Community Based Organization engagement around Middle Housing
Phase 2b -- Discuss Growth Options
Strategy Team
Statistically Valid Survey
Phase 2a – Exploring the Data
Phase 1 – Visioning
City work on HB 1110 – Middle Housing
With the passage of House Bill 1110, state law requires cities like Bellevue to change local comprehensive plans and development codes to allow up to four housing units per lot (six per lot within one-quarter mile walk of a major transit stop or when two units are affordable) in a variety of housing types. In addition to single-family, residential areas will need to allow at least six other types of housing from this list: duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, fiveplexes, sixplexes, cottage housing, courtyard apartments, stacked flats or townhouses.
The legislature also passed HB 1337, which will require Bellevue to update its comprehensive plan and its development code regulating attached and detached accessory dwelling units. These are other forms of housing that can be used to meet the additional units per lot requirements of HB 1110.
Bellevue already has many of the housing types listed in HB 1110, but in just a few areas. Bellevue will amend its comprehensive plan and development codes to meet the state requirements to allow these types of housing; however, individual property owners and the housing market will ultimately determine the number and type of housing that is built.
The first step in complying with the new state laws on housing is already underway as Bellevue updates the city's Comprehensive Plan to prepare for significant, anticipated growth in population and jobs over the next 20 years. The city will continue to analyze the legislation to better understand the requirements and ways to comply. This information will be used by the Planning Commission and City Council to update the Comprehensive Plan. Once the Comprehensive Plan is updated, the city will revise the development code with more specific requirements.
Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendments
In contrast to periodic updates of the Comprehensive Plan, which are substantial and involve the entire community, amendments associated with specific properties can be requested once per year in Bellevue. Privately-initiated Comprehensive Plan amendments requested in 2023 or 2024 are unlikely to be adopted because of the periodic 2024 update underway.
Work is underway on the Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update (as initiated by the City Council on Feb. 28, 2022), which includes potential changes to the Land Use Maps found within the Comprehensive Plan. This work will continue throughout 2023 and 2024, with an adoption date for the Periodic Update scheduled on or before June 30, 2024. The City is currently soliciting feedback through its Environmental Review process, including feedback from the public relating to amendment requests associated with specific properties which may include changes to plans, policies, or land use map for specific properties. Formal Community Initiated Requests for changes to the City's Comprehensive Plan land use map, plans or policies related to a particular property will be considered as part of the plan update, but changes to the land use designations that apply to individual properties will be considered in the context of the community's vision for the plan. Submit a comment during the public comment period (September 29 through October 31) through any of the means described on the Environmental Review page if you would like to express a particular comment or request regarding an individual property.
It is unlikely that the criterium in LUC 20.30I.140.C (“The proposed amendment does not raise policy or land use issues that are more appropriately addressed by an ongoing work program approved by the City Council”) could be satisfied by an applicant requesting a change to a Land Use Map while the Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update is still being processed by the City. Please also note that a privately-initiated CPA application that does not pass threshold review in 2023 or 2024 may not be resubmitted for three years, due to LUC 20.30I.130.A.2.d.
More information about annual Comprehensive Plan amendments can be found on the Comprehensive Plan Amendment webpage.
Housing Needs Assessment
General Elements - Volume 1
- Cover and Dedication
- Table of Contents
- Introduction and Vision
- Citizen Engagement
- Land Use
- Neighborhoods
- Housing (2022)
- Capital Facilities
- Utilities
- Transportation (2022)
- Economic Development
- Environment
- Human Services
- Parks, Recreation and Open Space
- Urban Design and the Arts
- Shoreline Management
- Glossary (2020)
Subarea Plans - Volume 2
- Cover, Introduction and Table of Contents
- BelRed
- Bridle Trails
- Crossroads (2020)
- Downtown (2022)
- Eastgate
- Factoria
- Newcastle
- Newport Hills
- Northeast Bellevue (2021)
- Northwest Bellevue (2021)
- Richards Valley
- Southeast Bellevue
- Southwest Bellevue (2020)
- Wilburton/NE 8th St. (2021)
- Citywide Comprehensive Plan map (Links to: Maps and GIS -- PDF Maps -- Community Development -- Comprehensive Plan)