Moses Lake’s planning deliberations continue

MOSES LAKE — The city’s Comprehensive Plan won’t be approved until next month.

The Moses Lake City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to continue public comment at its next meeting Nov. 9 because it wants to give people time to give feedback and have time to consider the comments.

Required by state law, the Comprehensive Plan is a map to guide city development decisions during the next 20 years.

The plan examines land use, housing, utilities, capital and essential public facilities needed as the region grows. It covers Moses Lake, as well as the associated urban growth area, or UGA.

The Moses Lake Planning Commission approved the plan in September.

The city council must review it, adopt it and make its own recommendation to the Grant County commissioners, who have the final say.

For Moses Lake to be in compliance with the Growth Management Act and eligible for state funding, the plan must go before county commissioners before the end of October.

Community Development Director Melissa Bethel asked the city council to adopt the Housing Action Plan (HAP), which is part of the Comprehensive Plan.

This would enable the city to remain in compliance with the Growth Management Act and secure a $100,000 grant to fund the plan’s completion.

When the city council adopts the Comprehensive Plan next month, the HAP will automatically be included.

“This also allows us to keep moving forward with other grant funding,” Bethel said.

City council members voted unanimously to adopt the HAP.