Councilmember
Larry Gossett
Council District 2  
516 Third Ave., Rm. 1200
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206-296-1002
Toll Free: 800-325-6165
TTY/TDD: 206-296-1024
Fax: 206-296-0198

Serving the communities of the Central Area, Capitol Hill, Beacon Hill, the Rainier Valley, Seward Park, Skyway, UW, Fremont, Ravenna, and Laurelhurst.
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King County Comprehensive Plan: What is It?

This year I have the honor of serving as the Chair of the Growth Management and Natural Resources Committee. In addition to the committee’s usual workload, the committee must conduct a major review of the King County Comprehensive Plan (“Comp Plan”). The Comp Plan is King County’s leading policy document for land use policies and regulation in the unincorporated areas (those areas that are not a part of a city such as Skyway and White Center for example) of the county, and it sets county policy on major issues such as annexations, transportation, and the environment. The Comp Plan was adopted under the State Growth Management Act in 1994. Technical changes to the Comp Plan can be made yearly, but major changes can only be made every four years.

The County Council received Executive Ron Sim’s proposals to modify the Comp Plan on March 3, 2008, and the Council is holding five evening public hearings in rural and unincorporated areas of the county, beginning on March 20, to initiate its in-depth review and analysis of the existing Comp Plan and the Executive’s proposed changes.

A new element of the Comp Plan that I am personally excited about is integrating King County’s Equity and Social Justice Initiative into it. This simply means that we hope to integrate our land use policies, transportation planning, housing, open space, employment availability and environmental stewardship in a coordinated manner designed to create equal opportunity and good health to all who live or work in King County.

Public participation is critical to this process, and you can testify in person at a public hearing or submit written testimony online. Public testimony will also be taken at regularly scheduled meetings of the Council’s Growth Management and Natural Resources Committee throughout the spring and summer of 2008. I look forward to hearing from you.