ML commission approves new drafts of comp plan chapters

By CARA LORELLO

Staff Reporter

A quiet but productive meeting transpired last Tuesday afternoon between the Medical Lake Planning Commission and

Glenn Scholten of the city planning department, during which members approved three reedited chapters of the city's

comprehensive plan on transportation, park/recreation and natural areas, and natural environment.

Scholten, who's been heading the redraft process in consultation with city planning consultant Bill Grimes, said

there wasn't much to change in the three chapters other than statistical information since the plan's first draft in 1997,

and the purpose of presenting the redrafts to the commission one by one for review is for informational purposes.

“The planning commission has an important role in facilitating long term goals…I want to make sure that I'm hearing what it is they (the city) say they want as far as their goals in the plan,” Scholten said on Feb. 23.

While statistics may have changed, the general goals in the chapters, for the most part, have not.

For example, the comp plan's transportation chapter emphasizes moving pedestrians, motorized and non-motorized

traffic efficiently, thoroughly and effectively through the community through a system of streets, sidewalks and connected trails.

Planning commission members voted to add an omitted section on developing the city's trail system outside the city

limits in coordination with Spokane County and other neighboring jurisdictions back into the park/recreation and

natural areas chapter, as most felt it was in the community's best interest to continue to play up the city's recreational

assets in the long term.

“If (Medical Lake's trails) could become an end stop to a bigger trail, it could be an advantage for the city as far as

promoting our businesses and maybe even attract some new businesses,” Commissioner Mark Hudson said.

Scholten said the goal and work program for the trail system with an emphasis on connectivity is a good one for the city,

but will require concerted effort in terms of maintainability and support for the goal's vision.

Cara Lorello can be reached at clorello@cheneyfreepress.com