Comprehensive Plan Update Project (2018-2020)

Comprehensive Plan Update Project (2018-2020)

Following over two years of work and community input, the Milwaukie City Council adopted the Comprehensive Plan policy document on August 18, 2020.

Find the updated Comprehensive Plan Document HERE

Comprehensive Plan Update Overview

What is a Comprehensive Plan? 

The Comprehensive Plan is Milwaukie's primary land use document and includes a series of goals and policies that guide growth and development over a 20-year period. The Comprehensive Plan is implemented through the Development Code, Land Division Code, and other city codes and ordinances. Oregon state law requires that all cities and counties adopt Comprehensive Plans that are consistent with the state's 19 Statewide Planning Goals, which were established in 1973 by Oregon Senate Bill 100.

What work has been done on the Comprehensive Plan Update?

As described elsewhere on this page, members of city staff have worked with residents and elected officials to ensure that the city's Comprehensive Plan meets state requirements, and addresses the needs of the Milwaukie community. Background information on the work done can be found by clicking here

Why did Milwaukie update its Comprehensive Plan?

The last complete update to Milwaukie's Comprehensive Plan was adopted by the City Council in 1989. In the nearly 30 years since the Comprehensive Plan was updated, Milwaukie has experienced a number of significant changes, including the emergence of new housing types, industries, and the opening of the Orange Line light rail line.

In the last several years, the city has adopted several master plans and other land use documents that have become ancillary documents to Comprehensive Plan and/or incorporated in the Comprehensive Plan itself. The Moving Forward Milwaukie project saw the adoption of the Central Milwaukie Land Use and Transportation Plan and updates to the Downtown and Riverfront Land Use Framework Plan. The city has also adopted the Tacoma Station Area Plan and made several updates to the Transportation System Plan. The complete update to the Comprehensive Plan serves to create a central document that reflects the vision for the entire Milwaukie community.

How is the Comprehensive Plan Update different than Milwaukie All Aboard, the city's visioning effort?

The city launched Milwaukie All Aboard in Summer 2016 to develop a Community Vision Statement and Action Plan for Milwaukie. The Community Vision Statement is an aspirational document that describes the ideal Milwaukie of 2040, and serves as the foundation for both the Action Plan and the Comprehensive Plan. The Action Plan outlines a series of action items that help achieve the Vision Statement, and identifies partners, priorities, and performance measures for each action item. The Action Plan focuses primarily on topics other than land use, which is the main focus for the Comprehensive Plan.

How does the Neighborhood Hubs Project relate to the Comprehensive Plan Update?

The idea for Neighborhood Hubs was developed by Milwaukie’s community members during the city’s 2017 Community Vision and Action Plan. Neighborhood Hubs are intended to provide neighborhood gathering places and locations where residents have access to a variety of services or goods within walking distance of their homes. Hubs are envisioned to vary in size and intensity that could range from as small as a neighborhood tool library (tool sharing) to a cluster of mixed use buildings with housing above shops and services. The city is currently exploring options for how to make the hub vision a reality as part of its implementation to the updated Comprehensive Plan.

To learn more about the Neighborhood Hubs Project, visit its website page at: https://www.milwaukieoregon.gov/planning/neighborhood-hubs-project