Olympia City Council adopts 2045 Comprehensive Plan

The Olympia City Council unanimously approved the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan, a long-range vision that will guide the city’s growth and priorities over the next two decades.

Community Planning and Economic Development Planning Manager Joyce Phillips described the update as far more than a routine requirement.

“It provides the opportunity for us to check in with the community, reassess our values, and make changes that reflect our community values and visions for the future, so we can make any changes that we desire for us as a community,” said Phillips at a city council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

State law requires cities to update their comprehensive plan and development regulations every 10 years, and to plan for at least 20 years of population growth while addressing changes in state statutes.

According to Phillips, the updated plan integrated equity, climate and housing throughout every chapter.

“We infused equity throughout the entire plan,” said Phillips, noting the word “equity” was barely present in previous documents.

The plan aims to address historical disparities and ensure a sense of belonging for all residents.

Climate action receives similar comprehensive treatment. The plan includes specific commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for climate impacts, with strategies designed to protect vulnerable community members.

Housing emerges as another key priority, with the plan identifying strategies to ensure adequate housing across all income levels.

The city initiated the comprehensive plan update in 2021, conducting more than 100 public meetings and engagement opportunities. Each plan chapter underwent a review process, which included briefings to the Social Justice and Equity Commission and the Olympia Planning Commission, followed by public hearings.

The city council individually accepted each chapter.

Council member Dani Madrone said the 2045 Comprehensive Plan contains significant transformation. Previously, concepts like equity were barely mentioned, but now they are central.

Madrone added that climate and housing, while not entirely new, have gained a steady, focused approach.

Mayor Dontae Payne said the comprehensive plan sets the city’s vision for the next 20 years. He said that the plan’s real work begins now, transforming it from a document to a living commitment to the community’s future.

“This is where we hold ourselves accountable to our vision," he said.