Mill Creek Comprehensive Plan | City of Mill Creek

What is a Comprehensive Plan?

Mill Creek's Comprehensive Plan is a 20-year roadmap that envisions the City's long-term growth, infrastructure, and services. It articulates a series of goals and policies intended to guide the day-to-day decisions of elected officials and City staff.

The plan is intended to be a comprehensive guide with policies to be used in making decisions concerning future land uses, establishing urban growth boundaries and city limits, extensions of community services and facilities, locations of future transportation/circulation facilities, parks and open space, designation and protection of environmentally sensitive areas and desirable urban design elements of the City.

Mill Creek Comprehensive Plan Survey

Your input will help the City better understand community priorities, needs, and ideas. The feedback collected through this survey will be used to shape policies and actions that support a safe, healthy, and well-functioning community for current and future residents.

Take the survey here

(Survey link leads offsite)

Mill Creek Comprehensive Plan

Plan Elements

The Comprehensive Plan is organized into elements, like chapters in a book. The goals and policies in the Plan are implemented in a variety of ways including through city programs and regulations, such as zoning.

Land Use
Housing
Transportation
Environment
Utilities
Economic Vitality
Capital Facilities

Project Update Overview

The City of Mill Creek is starting analysis and engagement to adopt a new Climate Element as part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. This element will also include two subelements that focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and increasing resilience to future hazards the community may face.
This project is being driven by recent changes to the Growth Management Act that requires all cities within the Puget Sound area to reduce GHG emissions by 2050 and increase community resilience to future hazards such as flooding, wildfire/smoke, extreme heat.

Project Process and Schedule

The creation of the Mill Creek Climate Element is expected to take place over multiple phases beginning in May 2026 and ending in June 2027.

A horizontal timeline showing project phases from June to the following June. Phase 1, labeled “Data Collection,” appears from June through November in a dark blue bar and includes “Risk and Vulnerability Assessment” and “GHG Inventory.” Phase 2, labeled “Community Engagement,” is shown from July through May in a green bar and includes “Community Workshops & Events,” “Tribal Engagement,” “Stakeholder One-on-One & Group Interviews,” and additional “Workshops & Events.” Phase 3, labeled “Policy Development,”

Project Goals

For the City of Mill Creek this project prioritizes the following goals:

Develop a Practical Actionable Climate Element

Ensure the Climate Element is easy for staff to use and supports real-world decision making with achievable actions.

Integrate Climate Strategies to Reduce Strain on City Resources

Streamline implementation by aligning climate policies with existing Comprehensive Plan elements and reducing duplication.

Focus on Education and Communication

Build community and Council support by framing climate strategies in a way that is understandable, relevant, and connected to actions the City is already implementing.

Consider Long-Term Growth

Ensure the Climate Element remains effective over time by accounting for annexation, growth areas, and major infrastructure improvements.

How to Get Involved

Throughout the project, there will be opportunities to learn more and provide input on the project. The project team values community input to help guide the development of the Climate Element.
The project website is frequently updated to accurately reflect key engagement dates and project resources.

Why is the City planning this now?

This project is being driven by recent changes to the Growth Management Act in 2023 that requires all cities within the Puget Sound area to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) emissions by 2050 and increase community resilience to future hazards such as flooding, wildfire/smoke, extreme heat.

What is the Climate Element?

Per new state requirements, the Climate Element is a part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan that focuses on preparing for future conditions relating to change weather patterns and increased hazards, reducing risks, and finding practical ways to lower pollution and energy use while keeping the community running smoothly. It must specifically protect especially vulnerable, at risk, or overburdened communities.

What is the Resiliency Sub-Element?

Per new state requirements, the resiliency sub-element is a part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan that helps plan for and respond to climate hazards like extreme heat, flooding, coastal, groundwater intrusion, and wildfire smoke while improving the community’s ability to prepare for, adapt to, and recover from these impacts over time.

What is the Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) Reductions Sub-Element?

Per new state requirements, the GHG reduction sub-element is part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan that intends to document and create an inventory of localized emissions as well as identify actions that the City will take to reduce these emissions.

What are the strategies to reduce GHG emissions?

Strategies will be the result of this project, so there are no proposed strategies to consider at this time. We anticipate to have a first draft of reduction strategies by Fall/Winter 2026. Greenhouse gas emissions reduction means finding ways for the City to lower pollution from everyday activities through actions such as improving transit options, making buildings more energy efficient, supporting walking and biking, and reducing waste, so the community can lower its emissions reductions while also saving money and improving quality of life.

Will this impact City residents?

This project is about adhering to state requirements as well as planning for potential impacts in the future. City residents may see small incremental changes over a 10-year period, based on the final policies that will result from this project.

Is the City trying to control how people commute or heat their homes?

No, the City is not trying to control how people commute or heat their homes. The primary focus is City assets and City actions. The goal is to provide more options and make practical improvements that help residents save money, stay comfortable, and choose what works best for them.

Upcoming Opportunities

Mill Creek Festival July 11th and 12th (Link leads offsite)
City Council Meeting July 14th
Planning Commission Meetings July 16th

Project Resources

Frequently Asked Questions (coming soon)
Project Charter (coming soon)
Engagement Plan (coming soon)
Project schedule (coming soon)
State resources: Washington Department of Commerce Climate Planning (Link leads offsite)

Funding Acknowledgment

The Mill Creek Climate Element is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.