Olympia 2045: Comprehensive Plan Update

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What’s happening?

Every 10 years, the City is required by State law to review and update its Comprehensive Plan. This update will look out to year 2045 to show, among other things, how the City will accommodate new population and employment growth.

It is also an opportunity to make sure the Plan and Development Regulations meet current state requirements that have changed since the last major update of the Plan, and that the plan reflects our community.

The deadline to complete this update has been extended until December 31, 2025.

What is the Comprehensive Plan?

Olympia’s Comprehensive Plan describes the community's long-term vision and goals, looking twenty years into the future. It covers issues like housing, land use, transportation, parks and open spaces, utilities and public safety services, and the economy. It also reflects community values around things like public participation, climate change, and diversity and equity issues.

The Plan also helps to inform our partners, like transit providers and school districts, with information to help coordinate provision of services for all of us.

The Plan covers the City Limits and the Urban Growth Area (map(External link)).

How does it affect our actions?

The Comprehensive Plan is used in several meaningful ways. It provides a shared vision of our future the public and City can work to achieve. It informs the City’s Master Plans about where growth will occur and at which intensities, so utility and infrastructure improvements are sized for the anticipated need. It provides the policy direction for city programs and budgets.

How is it organized?

The Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan will be organized into the following chapters:

  • Community Values & Vision
  • Public Participation & Partners
  • Natural Environment
  • Land Use & Urban Design
  • Housing
  • Transportation
  • Climate Action & Resilience
  • Parks, Arts and Recreation
  • Utilities
  • Economy
  • Public Safety
  • Capital Facilities

Some issues, such as equity and health will be addressed throughout the plan.

How to get involved

Each chapter of the Comprehensive Plan is being updated individually, with its own public participation process and opportunities to provide feedback. Click through to the individual pages below to learn more about each chapter, how it is being updated and how you can get involved in the update process.

We encourage people to send an email to olympia2045@ci.olympia.wa.us(External link) asking to become a Party of Record to receive periodic email updates and notices of public hearings.

You can also subscribe to our "Planning & Development" E-news group(External link) and check these pages for the latest information.

The multi-year public process kicked off with an informational webinar on May 10, 2023. You can watch the recording on the right side of this page.

Open House

An open house was held on July 31 for people to come and learn more about the update and to share their ideas and comments. A summary of the comments received will be shared here soon.

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Scoping Comments

An opportunity for people to comment on potential environmental impacts of accommodating future growth was open between February 23 and March 25. A summary of the comments received and staff responses is included below.


What’s happening?

Every 10 years, the City is required by State law to review and update its Comprehensive Plan. This update will look out to year 2045 to show, among other things, how the City will accommodate new population and employment growth.

It is also an opportunity to make sure the Plan and Development Regulations meet current state requirements that have changed since the last major update of the Plan, and that the plan reflects our community.

The deadline to complete this update has been extended until December 31, 2025.

What is the Comprehensive Plan?

Olympia’s Comprehensive Plan describes the community's long-term vision and goals, looking twenty years into the future. It covers issues like housing, land use, transportation, parks and open spaces, utilities and public safety services, and the economy. It also reflects community values around things like public participation, climate change, and diversity and equity issues.

The Plan also helps to inform our partners, like transit providers and school districts, with information to help coordinate provision of services for all of us.

The Plan covers the City Limits and the Urban Growth Area (map(External link)).

How does it affect our actions?

The Comprehensive Plan is used in several meaningful ways. It provides a shared vision of our future the public and City can work to achieve. It informs the City’s Master Plans about where growth will occur and at which intensities, so utility and infrastructure improvements are sized for the anticipated need. It provides the policy direction for city programs and budgets.

How is it organized?

The Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan will be organized into the following chapters:

  • Community Values & Vision
  • Public Participation & Partners
  • Natural Environment
  • Land Use & Urban Design
  • Housing
  • Transportation
  • Climate Action & Resilience
  • Parks, Arts and Recreation
  • Utilities
  • Economy
  • Public Safety
  • Capital Facilities

Some issues, such as equity and health will be addressed throughout the plan.

How to get involved

Each chapter of the Comprehensive Plan is being updated individually, with its own public participation process and opportunities to provide feedback. Click through to the individual pages below to learn more about each chapter, how it is being updated and how you can get involved in the update process.

We encourage people to send an email to olympia2045@ci.olympia.wa.us(External link) asking to become a Party of Record to receive periodic email updates and notices of public hearings.

You can also subscribe to our "Planning & Development" E-news group(External link) and check these pages for the latest information.

The multi-year public process kicked off with an informational webinar on May 10, 2023. You can watch the recording on the right side of this page.

Open House

An open house was held on July 31 for people to come and learn more about the update and to share their ideas and comments. A summary of the comments received will be shared here soon.

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Scoping Comments

An opportunity for people to comment on potential environmental impacts of accommodating future growth was open between February 23 and March 25. A summary of the comments received and staff responses is included below.


  • Public Safety

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    supporting image

    The Public Safety chapter focuses on the core services of law enforcement, Crisis Response, fire suppression, emergency medical services delivery, hazardous materials response, and technical rescue.

    Go to the Public Safety chapter

  • Capital Facilities Plan

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    01 May 2023
    supporting image

    The Capital Facilities Plan is the place where what is needed over the next 20 years to implement the Comprehensive Plan is shown. It is a plan that shows what is needed, how much it is likely to cost, and how the City intends to pay for the improvements. Much of the detail is in the associated master plans, all of which are to be consistent with each other and designed to implement the Future Land Use Map and community vision.

    Go to the Capital Facilities Plan chapter

Page last updated: 19 Nov 2024, 04:06 PM