It’s been two years in development, and now Mercer Island’s 2024 city council draft comprehensive plan is available for public review.

This 20-year horizon plan focuses on land use, housing, transportation, utilities, capital facilities, shoreline master program policies, economic development and parks and open space.

Residents can view the draft plan at https://tinyurl.com/43ys4wnb and email comments to comp.plan@mercerisland.gov by Oct. 31. Citizens’ input will be compiled and included in the city council packet for its Nov. 4 regular meeting that will feature a public hearing and first reading of the draft. As the fall rolls on, council’s Nov. 19 regular meeting will feature a second reading and adoption of the plan effective Dec. 31.

The overall process featured noteworthy changes and challenges in the plan reaching its draft destination and current residence in front of the community’s eyes.

Senior planner Adam Zack explained several sections of the plan, including what transpired in the realm of new housing legislation that the drafters addressed: “The most significant changes include a substantially rewritten housing element that includes policies to address housing supply and affordability, a new economic development element that will guide city actions to support and grow the local economy, and a new parks and open space element that directs the creation of a new open space and parks zone.”

As September turned into October, city council continued its review of the plan by directing staff at its Oct. 1 regular meeting to prepare an interim ordinance to increase multifamily and mixed-use development capacity in the Town Center, increase the required percentage of affordable housing in new development in Town Center, and deepen the affordability requirement for affordable housing units, according to the city’s weekly newsletter.

Taking a glance at the draft plan, here are a few of copious goals included within the document that the city hopes to achieve: (land use) protecting the environment and private property rights while being consistent with all state and federal laws; (transportation) balancing the maintenance of quality Island neighborhoods with the needs of the Island’s transportation system; (shoreline) ensuring that the land-use patterns within shoreline areas are compatible with shoreline environment designations and will be sensitive to and not degrade habitat, ecological systems, and other shoreline resources; (economic development) ensure the city’s economic development efforts are sustainable and environmentally friendly.

“The comprehensive plan sets the path for Mercer Island’s future and I’m confident our draft plan addresses the Island’s needs with efficiency and vision,” said Mayor Salim Nice.

City Manager Jessi Bon noted that strategy, problem-solving and vision-setting brought the draft plan to fruition and it will benefit the community in its final form.

“I’m proud of the work that went into this plan and I thank Islanders, the city council, the Mercer Island Planning Commission, and our staff for their contributions and dedication to this important work,” she said.