2024 Comprehensive Plan Update
Announcements
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
The State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requires an environmental analysis of the 2024 Update to identify potential adverse impacts, and possible mitigation measures. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) can now be reviewed here. Please click on the Reports tab below to find links to specific chapters, and the storymap for more information about the DEIS. The 45-day public comment period is open from September 6 through October 23, 2023.
The storymap also includes a link to an online mapping tool where the public can review the possible zoning maps and Future Land Use Maps (FLUMs) associated with each DEIS alternative. Please review the storymap for more for more details, and see this user guide for instructions on how to navigate the mapping tool.
September Open Houses
The 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update team will host two open houses on September 12th and 23rd. Find more information on the "Get Involved" tab below, and on the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update calendar.
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission was briefed on the DEIS at a September 12, 2023 open house. To review archived recordings and materials from past 2024 Update briefings to the Planning Commission, go to the Planning Commission Briefings Page. The next Planning Commission meeting will take place on September 26, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. View the Planning Commission webpage for details.
Snohomish County is planning for a resilient, vibrant, and inclusive future. One of the main ways the county can plan for this future is through periodic updates to its Comprehensive Plan.
The Comprehensive Plan (the "Plan") is a document that guides Snohomish County decisions on a wide range of topics and services over a 20-year time period. As the Plan acts as the blueprints for development in the county, it will impact neighborhoods, businesses, traffic, the environment, and you. The Plan is also meant to reflect the vision and priorities of Snohomish County communities and residents, while meeting requirements of state and federal law. Click here to view the current Plan.
Between now and December, 2024, the Plan will go through an update (the “2024 Comprehensive Plan Update,” or “2024 Update”). When adopted, the Plan will be in effect from 2024 to 2044 with minor updates.
We want to hear from you! To ask a question or provide a comment on the 2024 Update, please use the buttons above, or click here to submit a comment via online form or via email to 2024update@snoco.org.
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Why is the Plan being updated?
Washington State’s Growth Management Act (GMA) requires that cities and counties update their Comprehensive Plans on a periodic schedule. This is an opportunity to revise population and employment growth forecasts with the most up to date data, review existing policies to ensure they make sense for the communities they serve, write new policies that reflect the priorities of the communities of Snohomish County, and confirm that all federal, state, and local requirements are met. The next update of the County’s Comprehensive Plan is due in December of 2024. The 2024 Update will plan for the next 20 years of population and employment growth through the year 2044.
How can I get involved?
Snohomish County wants to hear from you! The population and employment landscapes are changing as more people choose to live, work, and play in Snohomish County. Your voice will help shape the County’s future and help us understand important topics of today.
There are several ways to be involved in the 2024 Update.
- Attend an upcoming Open House. View the table below or our "Upcoming Events" calendar for more information
- View the DEIS StoryMap
Event | Location | Date / Time |
| Special Planning Commission & Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update Open House | Snohomish PUD (map) *in person only | Tuesday, September 12, 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. |
| Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and 2024 Comprehensive Plan Open House | Unity in Lynnwood (map) *in person only | Saturday, September 23, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. |
| Planning Commission public hearing - 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update | Robert Drewel Building, 1st Floor Public Meeting Rooms (map) | October 24, 2023, 5:30 p.m.* *The hearing may be continued through to October 25 & 26 based on comment volume and determined at the end of the public hearing on October 24. |
- Attend a Planning Commission meeting or review materials and video recordings of past briefings on the Draft Policy Amendments webpage.
- Sign up to receive text or email notifications, including our newsletter, information about outreach events, surveys, and other public participation opportunities.
- Send us an email at 2024Update@snoco.org to let us know what you think. What do you want to see in your neighborhood?
- Submit a comment related to the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update.
Project Overview and Schedule
The purpose of the 2024 Update is to comply with the requirements of the GMA in RCW 36.70A.130 for Snohomish County to:
- Plan for the next 20 years of population and employment growth
- Review and revise the comprehensive plan and development regulations to ensure they comply with the requirements of the GMA.
The final deadline for adoption of any updates pertaining to this project is December, 2024.
(click here to view a full resolution version of the graphic above)
Project Components
Project Documents
Project Fact Sheet
Climate Change Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Tool
Presentations
Description of EIS Alternatives and Map of Docket Requests and Council Motions
Draft Environmental Impact Statement StoryMap
Interactive Map (and User Guide instructions - PDF)
PDFs of Future Land Use Maps: Alternative 2 Quad Index , Alternative 3 Quad Index
2024 Update Communication Plan Executive Summary
2024 Update Communication Plan
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Published Sept. 6, 2023)
The State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requires an environmental analysis of the 2024 Update to identify potential adverse impacts, and possible mitigation measures. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was published on September 6, 2023, and studies three land use and growth alternatives that could be selected by the County Council as the preferred alternative. To make a comment please click here and to learn more please review the Storymap.
Review the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) by chapter:
- Cover and Front Matter
- Chapter 1 - Summary
- Chapter 2 - Proposal and Alternatives
- Chapter 3.1 - Natural Environment
- Chapter 3.2 - Built Environment
- Chapter 4 - References
- Chapter 5 - Appendices (Large file, approx. 650MB, may take a while to download)
Download the full Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) (Large file, approx. 700MB, may take a while to download)
Public Engagement Reports
Community Interviews Summary Report - Four community organizations were interviewed between December of 2021 to October of 2022, and this summary report (available in English, Spanish, and Korean) delves into what the County learned from these interviews, and how the important information will be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan Update.
Summer 2022 Public Participation Pop-Up Tabling - Throughout the month of July 2022, the 2024 Update Team staffed pop-up tables across the county to answer public questions, listen to the public’s ideas, and raise awareness of the 2024 Update. Staff visited parks, libraries, and businesses in all five county council districts. This summary report (available in English, Spanish and Korean) delves into where we went, what we heard, lessons learned, and next steps.
Visioning - Snohomish County held a Visioning comment period for the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update between November 1, 2021 and February 25, 2022. Staff compiled the input received from 100 comments to develop a draft Vision statement. The draft Vision statement is out for review until May 30, 2022 to check if we heard you correctly. The next step is to incorporate the draft Vision statement into the Introductory chapter of the comprehensive plan for review by the Planning Commission in early 2023 and Council in 2023/2024. Please review the draft Vision statement in the Spring Newsletter.
Scoping - The Environmental Impact Statement Scoping period was November 1 to December 3, 2021. A summary of the public input received during the scoping period can be found here Version Options 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update HeadlineHow can I get involved?.
A storymap about SEPA Scoping and the Update is available at https://bit.ly/SnoCo-SEPA-Scope. During the SEPA scoping period, the County hosted two virtual public meetings. You can watch a recording of the November 9th meeting here and the November 15th meeting here. The presentation can also be viewed as a PDF here.
Communications Survey - Summer 2021 Communications Preferences Survey Results Summary (PDF)
E-Newsletters
Title VI / ADA
Interpreter and translation services for non-English speakers, and accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request. Please make arrangements in advance by emailing the project contact at 2024Update@snoco.org. For questions regarding Public Works’ Title VI Program, contact the Title VI Coordinator via e-mail at spw-titlevi@snoco.org, or phone 425-388-6660. Hearing/speech impaired call 711.
Para solicitar esta encuesta en español, envíe un correo electrónico con el siguiente asunto: "2024 Update - Spanish Translation Request" y enviarlo a 2024Update@snoco.org desde la cuenta de correo electrónico a la que usted desee que respondamos. Asimismo, puede ponerse en contacto con el Coordinador del título VI del Condado de Snohomish al teléfono 425-388-6660.
이 설문 조사를 한국어로 요청하시는 경우, 당사에서 회신해 주기를 바라는 이메일 주소인 2024Update@snoco.org 로 "2024 Update - Korean Translation Request" 이라는 제목의 이메일을 보내 주시기 바랍니다. 또는 425-388-6660 번으로 전화하면 Snohomish County Title VI 코디네이터와 상담을 할 수 있습니다.