Planning

FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Planning Department prepares and administers plans, policies, and regulations pursuant to authority in federal and state laws to protect public health, safety, and welfare. It is responsible for managing the orderly growth and development of the City. It is also responsible for the City's physical planning, which includes: Development Review Analysis & Compliance Environmental Review, Long-range planning Development Policies.

Primary state laws governing planning include the Growth Management Act RCW 36.070A, the Shoreline Management Act RCW 90.58, and the Platting Requirements RCW 58.17.

The following documents guide planning and growth in North Bend:

City of North Bend Comprehensive Plan

The Growth Management Act (GMA) requires many cities and counties in Washington to adopt comprehensive plans that contain elements like land use, housing, Capital Facilities Plan, transportation, utilities, subarea plans, economic development, parks and recreation, conservation and more.

The City's Comprehensive Plan outlines the goals, objectives, policies, actions and standards that help guide the day-to-day decisions of elected officials and City staff. It represents the vision of community residents for a 20-year planning period. The City's development regulations are consistent with its Comprehensive Plan. 

The Comprehensive Plan is periodically updated to ensure it is consistent with requirements of the Growth Management Act and County wide planning policies. The City Council adopted the changes to the Comprehensive Plan on December 15, 2015.

See Current North Bend Comprehensive Plan:

City of North Bend Shoreline Master Plan

The Shoreline Management Act (SMA) requires all counties and most towns and cities with shorelines to develop and implement Shoreline Master Programs. The law also defines the Department of Ecology’s role in reviewing and approving local programs. Its overarching goal is "to prevent the inherent harm in an uncoordinated and piecemeal development of the state’s shorelines." Within North Bend the Shoreline includes streams and rivers with greater than 20 cubic feet per second mean annual flow; upland areas called shorelands that extend 200 feet landward from the edge of these waters; biological wetlands connected to these water bodies and Shorelines of statewide significance which are rivers flowing 1,000 cubic feet per second or more and associated wetlands.

See Current North Bend Shoreline Master Plan:

Downtown Master Plan

The Downtown Master Plan is intended to guide the City's revitalization and economic growth for the next 20 years. It recommends short and long-term physical and economic improvements that will establish Downtown North Bend as a vibrant retail/commercial district while preserving its small town character.

See current  North bend Downtown master Plan:


For More Information
 If you have any questions or would like more details, please contact Mike McCarty, Senior Planner 425-888-7649, or email Mike McCarty.