Planning Sumner’s Future: The Comprehensive Plan

2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Cycle

**The City of Sumner is now accepting applications for annual amendments to the Sumner Comprehensive Plan and/or Zoning Code.

What is the Comprehensive Plan?

The Sumner’s Comprehensive Plan lays out the community’s vision for how we will live, work, get around, and grow over the long term. The Plan contains the community’s goals and policies about things like land use, housing, transportation, environment and capital facilities. Planning Sumner's future is an ongoing process, it's our job to address state legislature and maintain compliance with the Growth Management Act (GMA).

What was the 2024 Periodic Update?

Every 10 years we are mandated by the Growth Management Act to update the Comprehensive Plan with new policies and to incorporate state legislation where required. Sumner successfully completed the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update and Council adopted the 2024 Comprehensive Plan on January 6, 2025, adopting new polices around housing, historic and cultural resources, critical areas and capital facilities. You can find the final Comprehensive Plan, background data and associated Ordinances which implement the 2024 Periodic Update under Archive documents.

What is an Annual Amendment?

Every year, per city code, we allow for annual amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and/or Zoning Code. Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan may be proposed to any element of the adopted Sumner Comprehensive Plan, including amendments to goals, policies, objectives, or comprehensive plan maps. Amendment applications must be complete and contain the information required in SMC 18.56.147. The city is also accepting applications for amendments to the Zoning Code. Applications must be complete and contain information required in SMC 18.56.149.

What changes are proposed in 2025?

Under this cycle of annual amendments, we will be looking at the Town Center Plan that is required to be updated every 5 years. The Town Center Plan adopted a Form-based Code which will also be updated. Staff will consider amendments to the Comprehensive Plan map and City Zoning Map. We won’t know the full scope of amendments until the public has a chance to submit their own proposals for changes. Over the next year, there will be opportunities for the community to comment on proposals at various steps in the process.

Who can apply and when is it due?

As part of this annual amendment cycle, city staff, private individuals and developers may apply for a change to the Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Map, or Zoning Code regulations. The deadline to submit proposals is Friday, February 21, 2025. Online applications will be accepted until 5:00pm on the due date. The city is required to post notice of the opening of this amendment cycle. See the public notice on the City's website and the required application steps: Notice: 2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendments – City of Sumner

For more information, contact Chrissanda Walker, Associate Planner in Community Development, at 253-299-5523 or chrissandaw@sumnerwa.gov

What’s the process and estimated timeline?

The estimated 1-year timeline for the 2025 Annual Amendments consists of numerous reviews and 2 public hearings: