Notice is hereby given that the City of Wenatchee has issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) for the periodic update to the Wenatchee Urban Area Comprehensive Plan. The comprehensive plan is the community’s long-range plan for growth and is required by the State Growth Management Act (GMA). It provides guidance for all aspects of growth and development in the Wenatchee Urban Growth Area (UGA), both incorporated and unincorporated areas, for the next 20 years. The plan outlines the community’s vision through goals, policies, and actions. These direct physical, social, and economic growth and guide the day-to-day decisions, investments, and regulations by elected officials and staff.
This Draft EIS studies three land use and growth alternatives at a programmatic level. Each alternative is summarized below:
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Alternative 2 - Adopts an updated comprehensive plan with revised goals, policies, and regulations to meet state requirements and supports anticipated growth with targeted rezones, revised codes and policies to encourage housing, adds climate resiliency policies, aligns with newer regional plans, introduces state required Multimodal Levels of Service standards, reduces parking requirements, and updates capital facility plans to support future growth, while consolidating existing elements into the Land Use framework and incorporating or eliminating most subarea plans.
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Alternative 3 - Expands on all approaches in Alternative 2 and includes additional targeted rezones in areas with access to transit and services, higher densities/building heights in mixed-use and Residential Moderate and High areas, and new small-scale commercial opportunities in some residential areas.
After community and agency review of the Draft EIS, a preferred alternative will be recommended for the Comprehensive Plan, which will be considered by the Wenatchee City Council by the end of 2026. Action by the Chelan County Commissioners will be required before any Comprehensive Plan amendments take effect in unincorporated portions of the UGA.
The City of Wenatchee is requesting comments from citizens, agencies, tribes, and all interested parties on the Draft EIS from May 13, 2026 to June 12, 2026. Comments are due by 5:00 PM, June 12, 2026.
All written comments should be directed to:
Matt Parsons, Senior Planner
City of Wenatchee Community Development Department
Submittal of comments by email is preferred—please include in the subject line “Wenatchee Comprehensive Plan Draft EIS Comments.” Comments may also be offered at an open house on May 27, 2026 from 5–7 p.m. at City Hall, 301 Yakima St.
