The Planning Commission will hold an Open House and Public Hearing on Wednesday, January 28, to provide information and receive public comment on updates to the City’s Critical Areas Ordinance.

The Open House begins at 5:00 p.m. at City Hall, with a brief presentation at 5:15 p.m. Attendees are invited to learn more and ask questions of staff and commissioners during the Open House before the formal public hearing.

The Public Hearing will follow the Open House, starting at 6:00 p.m. as part of the regular Planning Commission meeting. The meeting will also be streamed live on the City’s YouTube channel for those unable to attend in person.

Written comments may be submitted by regular mail to 12835 Newcastle Way, Suite 200, Newcastle, WA 98056 or by email to the City Clerk. Written comments received by 12:00 p.m. on the hearing date will be distributed to the commission before the meeting.

For meeting information or requests for special accommodations, contact Jayne Westman, City Clerk, at 425-386-4114, or by sending email or regular mail to the addresses above.

More information on the Critical Areas Ordinance Update is available here: 2025 Critical Areas Update. Community members can explore the new Stream Buffers Dashboard, which provides interactive information on stream buffer protections within the City.