Published February 12 2015
The city has released the first draft of its updated Comprehensive Plan.
The Comprehensive Plan is the citywide policy document that encapsulates the community's vision and guides the city's approach to growth and development over a 20-year planning period. Mandated by the state, the plan was last updated in 2004.
People can read about and comment on the draft using an "online open house" that will run through March 3. The website offers a convenient way to participate and give feedback on the Comp Plan, as it's known. A limited number of printed copies of the plan are available for review at City Hall and at Bellevue libraries.
The city's Comprehensive Plan Update web page offers extensive information about the update process, background material and videos.
Release of the Comp Plan draft kicks off a public outreach effort and several weeks of reviews and revisions. Along with the online options, several upcoming events offer opportunities to provide feedback:
- Open house, 5-7 p.m., Feb. 25, at City Hall, 450 110th Ave. NE;
- Open house, 5-7 p.m., Feb. 26, Interlake High School, 16245 NE 24th St.;
- Planning Commission public hearing, 6:30 p.m., March 4, City Hall, followed by further deliberations on March 11, 18 and 25; and
- City Council reviews of the draft on April 6, 13, 27 and May 11 (tentative dates), City Hall, prior to adopting the final Comprehensive Plan, possibly by June 15.
In addition to the city's online open house and sit-down meetings to encourage public comment about the plan, the Bellevue Reporter newspaper is running a series of articles by city department directors. The articles highlight different aspects of the Comprehensive Plan through the stories of Bellevue residents.
The current story is about a couple who had to replace 40 feet of sewer line in front of their 1937 log home, and how the city must maintain 680 miles of sewer line. Last week's story was about a man with disabilities and the importance to him of city sidewalks. Both stories illustrate that the Comprehensive Plan addresses issues that are important to people. Upcoming article topics include an energy efficient home and the city's tree canopy.
Completion of the draft Comp Plan follows community outreach that began in 2013 with a "Best Ideas" effort that drew hundreds of comments about how Bellevue should plan for the future. A key objective of the Comp Plan update is to make it more accessible and usable, so that it remains an effective planning tool.