Moses Lake city council adjusts timeline for new comprehensive plan

Moses Lake’s June deadline for final adoption of the City Comprehensive Plan has been pushed, after being approved by the state, to October due to COVID-19-related delays.

The city is due for a new plan outlining new growth, logistical services and facilities and a finance plan. In 2020, Moses Lake received a $100,000 grant from the state Department of Commerce for a revitalized Housing Action Plan. The city is currently working on the two plans in tandem and on Tuesday discussed receiving the state’s approval for adjusting the plans’ timelines.

Next month, the planning commission will draft capital facilities, transportation and utilities elements, with input from Seattle-based BERK Consulting and citizen stakeholder groups, for city council review. Prior to the regular May 11 city council meeting, the council will hold a workshop with the planning commission on implementation steps for the Housing Action Plan, as put together by the city ad hoc housing committee.

A Housing Action Plan draft is due to the Department of Commerce June 15. At this time, the city will hold a public hearing and more workshops with the planning commission.

While a draft is still due in June, now there will be more opportunities for revision afterward.

Come July, the Housing Action Plan will be revised based on the Department of Commerce’s suggestions. This will lead to more city council workshops with the planning commission.

The public hearing for the comprehensive plan will be in August, as will the final decisions for both the comprehensive plan and the Housing Action Plan. Following this will be a comprehensive review with the Department of Commerce.

This leaves September and October, for comprehensive plan and Housing Action Plan final approval and adoption by the city council. Prior to this decision, the plans need approval from both the State Environmental Protection Act, as well as the state itself. There is a 60-day window to attain this.

These plans are exciting opportunities for change, said City Manager Allison Williams, forever altering Moses Lake’s trajectory.

“We’ll have a lot more time for this very important piece of work,” she said.