Members of the Bonney Lake City Council discussed three ordinances amending the city’s Comprehensive Plan during a Nov. 17 public hearing.

One ordinance concerns three parcels making up the Washington State University Demonstration Forest.

Community Development Director John Vodopich said the current land-use designation of the property is conservation/open space and the zoning is public facilities.

WSU and Weyerhaeuser applied for a change in land-use designation of the property by the April 30 amendment application deadline.

The application and recommendation is that the land-use designation be changed to a combination of commercial, public facilities and high-density residential with the corresponding zoning designations.

Mitigation conditions for the project include the dedication of 47 acres of land to the city, designated as Public Facilities, with a public road connecting South Prairie Road and state Route 410.

Vodopich said the city has a non-binding letter-of-intent signed by all parties involved. He said the city is working on a formal development agreement, which will come before council, that will outline when the property would be transfered to the city.

He also said the city is working on the final environmental impact statement. The draft was issued in August.

The proposed amendment was approved by the Planning Commission, 4-2.

In a memo by Planning Commission Chair Randy McKibbin, members who voted against the amendment had concerns related to traffic on South Prairie Road, development of a residential area and potential loss of forest land that has been open to public recreation in the past.

McKibbin, who was recently elected to the council, did not vote.

The second proposed ordinance amends the Comprehensive Plan land-use designation of the Woodard property.

On April 30, the city received an application from Wendi Woodard for a change to the Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use map of her property from medium-density residential to commercial.

This property is adjacent to the Walmart property and within close proximity of state Route 410. The city recommends changing of the land use designation from medium-density residential to commercial.

The final ordinance is for adopting the 2009 Comprehensive Sewer Plan, 2008 Comprehensive Water Plan and amending the language of the Comprehensive Plan.

Vodopich said the water and sewer comprehensive plans have been updated and need to be adopted by council.