The update is a process required by the State and completed by all cities in our area every 10 years. The Comprehensive Plan provides the framework for how Bothell can adapt to and plan for projected growth.
Why update the Comprehensive Plan?
The first Imagine Bothell... Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1994 and last updated in 2015. Much has changed since the 2015 update, and more change is expected. The 2024 Periodic Update proactively plans for the next 20 years.
The City also has an annual process to make minor changes to our Comprehensive Plan. State law (the Growth Management Act (GMA)) requires cities to make larger periodic updates to review and address more substantial changes to their Comprehensive Plans.
What role does public input play in shaping the Comprehensive Plan?
With every periodic update or annual update, Community Development works hard to gather input and identify community needs and priorities.
For the 2024 Periodic Update, planning staff conducted 14 initial interviews with residents and community groups, formed work groups on important topics like climate and transportation, and hosted pop-up events last summer to gather feedback. Staff also held open houses and ran surveys earlier this year to get more input on the draft plan.