Enumclaw is vastly different than it was 20 years ago. How is it going to look two decades from now?
If you want a hand in how the city should change, then Enumclaw officials implore you to participate in the Comprehensive Plan process and help shape how your community will grow.
The first of many meetings about an updated Comprehensive Plan is scheduled for April 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at City Hall.
A Comprehensive Plan, in short, is a document the state requires cities and counties to develop as “the centerpiece of local planning”, according to the Municipal Research and Services Center.
While it’s not a binding document, and it is often amended as projections are updated and projects added, delayed, or removed, the Comprehensive Plan is crucial to obtaining grant money.
Enumclaw’s last Comprehensive Plan was passed in 2015, with the goal of looking forward into 2035.
Since 2015, population within city limits grew by about 1,000 people (that doesn’t account for everyone who lives outside Enumclaw’s borders). That may not seem like much, but population is just one piece of the growth puzzle.
For example, there’s also business and city revenue. In 2015, Enumclaw’s budgeted general fund revenue was $8.3 million; that’s now grown to $16.8 million, thanks in large part to tax revenue increasing from $6.1 million to $9.7 million.
A Comprehensive Plan also focuses on community development, transportation, capital facilities, housing, natural environment, parks and recreation, and human services.
So, in short, if you have a stake in how the city grows — whether you think the city needs more affordable housing, protect the environment, have more recreation opportunities, or improve its streets — this is your chance to make your hopes the city’s goals.
“This next cycle of Comprehensive Plans are going to be some of our city’s most important ones, due to life. Life changes,” Enumclaw’s Community Development Director said in a previous interview about housing on the Plateau. “I can’t emphasize [enough] that the Comprehensive Plan is so important, because that’s what we want out town to look like, moving forward. The next one is a big one.”
So on April 25, attendees can meet with city staff and consultants to learn about how a Comprehensive Plan is developed and then participate in the first of several “visioning statement” workshops. It’s a drop-in meeting, so there’s no need to come at the start and stay the whole two hours.
“The vision statement is basically the leading statement for the Comp Plan,” said Community Development Isaac Anzlovar. “… That will be used to fuel the goals and policies to reach that vision.”
The 2015 Comprehensive Plan overall statement is as follows: “We, the people of Enumclaw, recognize that Enumclaw is a rural community rich in history and surrounded by the beauty of rural lands, farms and mountains. Independence, personal freedoms, community, small town atmosphere, historic character and our rural quality of life are highly prized by Enumclaw residents. Bound together by these shared ideals, we declare our commitment to work toward this vision of Enumclaw and to insure that future generations preserve, enhance and protect the integrity of Enumclaw.”
It is then proceeded by similar statements for how the city wants to handle community growth and design, health and safety, land use and housing, etc.
It will be later on when community members can give specific ideas on how the city should tackle these growth elements. Those meeting dates are yet to be determined, but the whole Comprehensive Plan process is expected to take two years.
“Isaac and I both are really looking forward to seeing where we go with this Comprehensive Plan,” Pasinetti said. “The city has experienced a significant amount of growth since our last plan, and it’ll just be a really great time to look at what we did in the past and how we’re going to move forward in the future.”
