Open house for Moses Lake comprehensive plan Monday

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake residents are being invited to learn more about and give their opinions on proposed updates to sections of the city’s comprehensive plan at an open house Monday at the Moses Lake Civic Center, 411 S. Balsam St.  

Updates are planned for 2027 for the sections on transportation and utilities, land use, zoning and housing, parks and recreation, cultural services, built and natural environments, population growth and economic development. 

Mayor Dustin Swartz said state regulations added a requirement for an environmental impact statement, which is also part of the process. But the focus will be on getting information from residents and business owners on their ideas for the city’s future.  

“This is an important opportunity for the community to help shape how Moses Lake grows over the next 20 years,” said Deputy Mayor Don Myers in a press release. 

Swartz said an updated comprehensive plan is important for a couple of reasons; the ability to compete for state grant and loan programs being one of them.  

“It’s a tool that’s great if you want certain grants,” Swartz said. 

He cited Safe Streets as an example. The program helps municipalities with transportation projects like sidewalks, but one of the requirements is an up-to-date comprehensive plan.  

Grant County officials also are working on updating the county-wide comprehensive plan, he said, and Moses Lake’s comp plan will be included in that. 

“The county is really focusing on it for 2027,” Swartz said. “I’m excited to see what the ideas are.” 

That will be important when city and county officials start talking about joint projects, like a second crossing of Moses Lake. The idea of a second crossing is in the very early discussion stages, but planning done now will be important when city and county officials go looking for funding, Swartz said. 

“It really is advantageous to have (the comprehensive plan) well thought-out,” he said. 

Comprehensive plans are 20-year projections, and things have changed in Moses Lake in 20 years. Swartz said it’s advantageous that the parks plan is part of the update, since the city has more park space than the existing plan requires. 

“Some things in there will look distinctly different than they have in the past,” he said. 

OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE

March 30
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.
Moses Lake Civic Center
411 S. Balsam St.

    The city of Moses Lake is studying the future of transportation as part of its comprehensive plan update, which is the subject of an open house Monday.