Lynnwood Comprehensive Planning Lynnwood, Washington

In completing its comprehensive plan update, the City of Lynnwood also prepared subarea plans for the Regional Growth Center with a supporting planned action environmental impact statement (EIS) that outlines the mitigation of environmental impact from development. Otak led a detailed policy-by-policy audit of the existing comprehensive plan to understand gaps, conflicts, and inconsistencies that need to be addressed in the update.

Creating a Cohesive Plan that Addresses Environmental Impacts and Reaches Underrepresented Groups

To bring cohesion to Lynnwood’s comprehensive plan, an audit identified issues before creating a streamlined and easy-to-read plan that provides a greater range of implementation strategies, including a planned action EIS and ordinance. Covering 764 acres, the subarea plan for the city center includes two light rail stations as part of Sound Transit’s Lynnwood Link and Everett Link extensions. This dynamic planning environment also includes a citywide Housing Action Plan and multiple other subarea or neighborhood-scale plans. With a central goal of improving outreach with underserved and underrepresented groups in planning efforts, a public engagement strategy relied on innovative methods involving partnerships with community liaisons to build trust and integrate their perspectives into plans.