CPA Opening
On February 11, 2025, Yakima City Council opened the Comprehensive Plan Amendment process pursuant the Yakima Municipal Code and State Law. As the City is currently working on the Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update, any Comprehensive Plan Amendments for 2025 and 2026 will be consolidated under the Periodic Update process.
The City of Yakima Planning Commission formally opened the 2025-2026 annual amendment process at their meeting on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.
Requests for Consideration
Note: the application period is now closed.
Request for Consideration forms were accepted by the City Planning Division from February 26, 2025 to April 30, 2025. There is no fee for submitting a request form.
For changes to the Zoning Map, a Rezone Application may be required after an agreeable request has been processed with the Update. A rezone application may not be submitted concurrently with the request for consideration form.
City Seeks Input via Comprehensive Plan Survey
What is your vision of Yakima for the next 20 years? What should the City of Yakima prioritize during the next 20 years? The City of Yakima wants to hear community input on these areas and much more in the new 2026 Comprehensive Plan update survey created by the City of Yakima Planning Division.
The survey is available at https://www.yakimawa.gov/services/planning/comp-plan-survey/
It is also available via a Point of Interest atop the City website at www.yakimawa.gov.
The survey takes about five minutes to complete and is available through December 5th. It asks participants to weigh in on:
- Housing availability
- Infrastructure
- Community facilities/services
- Industries to attract or retain
In addition to the online version of the survey, the Planning Division will make printed copies available to distribute at public events and venues. A Spanish translation will be available.
“We appreciate the public’s participation in this survey,” said Planning Manager Trevor Martin. “The community’s input will contribute to the development and implementation of Comprehensive Plan goals and policies.”
Contact Planning Manager Trevor Martin at 509-575-6183 for more about the Comprehensive Plan and survey.
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
Open House and Community Visioning Session for the 2050 City of Yakima Periodic Update.
The Planning Commission will assemble for a special meeting on September 24th, 2025, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Harman Center, located at 101 N 65th Ave, Yakima, WA 98908. Members of the public are encouraged to attend this meeting. The purpose of the special meeting is to meet the residents of the community and get a better understanding of their experience in Yakima, and work with the community to develop a vision of the future. Please be advised that while discussions and presentations may take place, no formal actions, decisions, or votes are expected during this session. For further information or inquiries, please contact Trevor Martin, AICP, Planning Manager at trevor.martin@yakimawa.gov.
City of Yakima Comprehensive Plan 2050
Under the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA), local governments in the state have to adopt, regularly amend, and periodically update an Urban Area Comprehensive Plan. The plan helps guide long-range land use policy in urban areas by establishing a community vision for effectively managing growth over a twenty-year period.
The City of Yakima Comprehensive Plan 2040, adopted in June 2017, includes Goals and Policies related to Land Use, Historic Preservation, Economic Development, Housing, Transportation, Capital Facilities, Utilities, Parks and Recreation, Shorelines, and the Natural Environment. Those Goals and Objectives are accomplished through zoning, subdivision, permitting, and the implementation of other regulatory controls.
Yakima’s Comprehensive Plan Update is due June 30, 2026. This is an extensive process requiring significant staff time and review by the Yakima Planning Commission. However, in order to respond to the needs of property owners in the interim, a “request for consideration” process is being initiated as indicated above, allowing staff and the Commission to examine site-specific requests to modify the Future Land Use Map or Comprehensive Plan text.
The Yakima Planning Commission (YPC) will hold several work sessions and public meetings concerning this update process. Prior to June 2026, the YPC will hold a formal public hearing on the updated plan and make a recommendation to City Council. City Council will hold a public hearing to provide residents, interested parties, and reviewing agencies an opportunity to comment on the recommendations. At the conclusion of the hearing, City Council will direct Planning staff to prepare legislation to approve, approve with conditions, or deny the 2050 Updated Plan. At a subsequent City Council meeting, the City Council shall enact an ordinance adopting their decision. Following City Council action, the City Clerk and Planning Staff will notify the public and agencies.
This page will continue to be updated throughout this process.
