By Matt Bott

Over the past few years, the community has come together to develop a plan for the future of much of Issaquah’s valley floor. The plan, called the Central Issaquah Plan or “CIP,” represents a 30-year vision for the bulk of Issaquah’s existing commercial and business districts.

The plan was developed by a diverse group of committed citizens, appointed by the mayor, who worked together as a task force representing all aspects of the political and community spectrum. Members included property owners, environmental interests, small and large businesses, new and longtime citizens, planners and more.

The task force spent close to 1,000 hours creating this foundation for our future. It is an impressive vision for the nearly 1,100 acres of “Central Issaquah” and one that incorporates the best of Issaquah’s character, values and environmental, economic and social sustainability goals.

City leaders are now preparing for the plan’s final review and eventual adoption. From our perspective, this is the right thing to do. Here’s why:

Our region’s population will grow by hundreds of thousands of people in the next few decades. In fact, much of it is already here with our children and grandchildren. Communities across the region are preparing for this growth in ways that will preserve their natural amenities, attract jobs and support families. The need for this planning is not only required by the state’s Growth Management Act, but also it is the smart and responsible thing to do for Issaquah.

Having a plan matters.

A plan of this nature provides certainty, vision and a place to capture the values of the community. The CIP accomplishes this goal through its focus on workforce housing, open space preservation, density where it belongs on the valley floor, economic vitality, mobility and overall the securing of a more livable, walkable and economically competitive community.

As a long term plan, the CIP provides a direction – a vision. Some details of the plan may change, be upgraded or improved. And like any other redevelopment initiative, funding will occur organically through a mixture of sources, brought to fruition over the course of the 30-year redevelopment period.

And the cost of doing nothing is severe.

We are and will remain a small community relative to our regional neighbors. It is therefore critical that our existing and potential businesses and residents see that Issaquah has a plan for the future. Without a plan, businesses and the jobs and new revenue they bring to our community, will seek a home elsewhere.

We need a competitive and diversified business environment to help fund our parks, arts, public safety, schools and more. We must be in a position to compete for these future jobs and, as a small community relative to our region, we must ensure we give ourselves every chance to succeed in the new economic reality.

Thus, in a community planning effort of this nature, there is little room for stepping backwards or unnecessary delay. Such moves would not be responsible. Let’s continue forward with our due diligence and get the job done for our citizens. In the competitive region we live in, failure to plan – to have a blueprint for success – is, as the saying goes, is “planning to fail.”

If you care about Issaquah’s character, its treasures, the preservation of its unique natural and built amenities and the establishment of a competitive local economy over the decades to come, please join the Chamber in encouraging city leaders to continue their work towards adoption of the plan. I urge you to learn more and become a supporter of this project by visiting the city’s website at www.ci.issaquah.wa.us/.

Please contact me directly if you would like to help.

Matthew Bott is Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce.