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, which 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. The project is currently undergoing Environmental Review through an environmental impact statement.
The 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 |
|---|---|---|
| June 14, 2023 | Planning Commission | Link to materials when available |
| Discuss the preferred alternative for the Final EIS | ||
| April 26, 2023 | Planning Commission | Link to materials when available |
| Review the Draft EIS | ||
| End of April, 2023 | Release of Draft EIS | EIS website |
| The release of the Draft EIS will be followed by a 45 day comment period. | ||
| April 17, 2023 | City Council | Link to materials when available |
| An update on the progress of the 2044 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update will be provided. | ||
| Mar. 23, 2023 | Housing Forum - Virtual Lunch & Learn | Event Materials |
| Mar. 21, 2023 | Housing Forum - Discussion | |
| Mar. 18, 2023 | Housing Forum - Drop-in | |
| Community members are invited to discuss this important issue at one of three upcoming Housing Forums. Participants will have the opportunity to explore data around the city's housing needs, ask questions, and engage in small group discussion. Input from these events will be used to inform policy. | ||
| 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 | |
| Mar. 22 | 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 |
| Mar. 9, 2022 | Planning Commission | PowerPoint & Commission Materials |
| The scope of the update was introduced to Planning Commission. No action was taken. | ||
| Feb. 28, 2022 | City Council | PowerPoint and Council Materials |
| Council directed staff to begin work on the Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update. |
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
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Housing (2022) |
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Transportation (2022) |
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Glossary (2020) |
Subarea Plans - Volume 2
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Crossroads (2020) |
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Downtown (2022) |
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Northeast Bellevue (2021) |
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Northwest Bellevue (2021) |
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Southwest Bellevue (2020) |
Wilburton/NE 8th St. (2021) |
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Citywide Comprehensive Plan map (Links to: Maps and GIS -- PDF Maps -- Community Development -- Comprehensive Plan)