City plan taking shape

Like other cities, Shelton is required every 10 years through the Growth Management Act to create a comprehensive plan that develops a vision for the community.

Jae Hill, the city's community and economic development director, talked about the city's evolving comprehensive plan May 16 at a Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Mason County Public Works headquarters.

The completed plan is due Dec. 31, 2025. The consulting group working with the city on the plan, SCJ Alliance, is also working with Mason County on its comprehensive plan, which is due at the same time, Hill said.

The plan will incorporate new state regulations. It will also align infrastructure needs to projected growth. By law, the plan must include land use, housing, a capital facilities plan, utilities, transportation, and climate change and resilience. The city has the option to include economic development, parks and recreation, conservation, solar energy and "subarea plans," which can include neighborhoods, rural villages, urban growth areas and tribal areas.

Hill pointed out the development of the plan is funded by a state commerce grant of $125,000.

Hill said the city is about one-third of the way through completing the comprehensive plan. The process began in early 2023 with the collection of data and the selection of a steering committee. That group includes Mayor Eric Onisko, council member Miguel Gutierrez - serving as the council's liaison - Anthony Friese, Amanda Mintz, Mike Olsen, Deidre Peterson and Isa Radojcic.

Hill also talked about Shelton's demographics. Shelton's population was estimated to be 10,430 in 2022 and continues to grow at a slower rate than the rest of Mason County and the state. The median household income in Shelton in 2021 was $48,000, compared to $80,139 in Mason County and $88,853 in Thurston County.

The median value of the 1,626 owner-occupied units in Shelton is $208,000, compared to $429,300 in Mason County and $485,700 statewide.

Hill showed a map of pending development projects in the city. They include the Shelton Hills Hotel, and subdivisions called Meadows Edge, Olympic Heights, Natalie Heights, Bayview Terrace, Grandview and Coffee Creek.

"A lot of thigs are going on in the city," Hill said.

Hill showed an aerial photo showing the proposed 2.5-mile multimodal pathway dubbed the Cross Town Trail.

Phase 1 would be a pathway from the western boundary of the city on Railroad Avenue to Kneeland Park, a 1.5-mile stretch that follows Simpson Timber Company's former railroad line.

Phase 2 would be a 1-mile pathway from Kneeland Park to the Shelton Marina running parallel to state Route 3. The city has secured $575,000 in planning and design funding.

Rails will be removed and an interim trail is expected this fall. Phase two of the plan is still in the conceptual stage, Hill said.

Hill displayed a list of land use topics for the comprehensive plan. They include whether to reduce the UGA in the northwest and expand the UGA in the southeast and southwest. Other considerations include access to Oakland Bay, increased residential density downtown, increasing the height limit of buildings, creating a Cota Arts District and a regional retail zone, and the creation of an ice rink or multiuse facility. Possible annexations also will be studied.

Hill said the city is developing a dedicated page on its website on the comprehensive plan. The city will also host "pop-up" events on the formation of the plan, including June 22 at the Shelton Farmers Market, July 19 at the Expo & Bite of Shelton Street Fair and July 27 at the Shelton Arts Walk.