The City of Port Angeles has released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Vision 2045 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update. The DEIS is now open for a 30-day public comment period, beginning September 18, 2025. Written comments must be submitted by October 18, 2025.
The proposed update to the Comprehensive Plan is a non-project action intended to meet state requirements. Vision 2045 aims to revise the existing plan with updated perspectives on land use, development, and transportation options within Port Angeles while aligning with local and state policies.
According to the City, the DEIS examines three alternatives at a programmatic level:
– Alternative 1 – No Action: This scenario analyzes growth under current land use and zoning standards city-wide. It assumes that development will continue as it has under existing regulations.
– Distributed Growth Alternative: This approach proposes increased housing capacity in most residential areas, expands where commercial uses are allowed, enhances multimodal transportation networks, makes minimal additions to park land, and invests in utility infrastructure across the city.
– Focused Growth Alternative: This strategy concentrates most growth in Downtown and along First Street/Front Street corridor. It increases housing capacity in targeted areas and focuses investments in transportation, parks, and utilities while allowing minimal growth elsewhere.
As part of this process, amendments to comprehensive plan goals and policies are being considered. Changes may also affect Urban Growth Area boundaries and related maps. In line with state law requirements, the City plans to add a new chapter addressing climate change and resiliency.
A public hearing on the DEIS will be held during a special Planning Commission meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 6:00 pm in City Council Chambers at City Hall (321 East 5th Street). The event will be accessible both in person and virtually through information available on the City’s website at https://www.cityofpa.us/984/Live-Virtual-Meetings.
For those unable to attend or provide live testimony during the hearing, written comments can be sent via email or mail as detailed by the City’s Community & Economic Development department. All written feedback must be postmarked before October 18.
The Draft EIS can be downloaded from https://www.cityofpa.us/937/Vision-2045-Comprehensive-Plan-Periodic-.
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