Open house for Moses Lake comprehensive plan Monday
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 months, 1 week AGO
The future of parks in Moses Lake will be among the topics under study as part of the city’s comprehensive plan update. Residents are invited to learn more at an open house Monday.
CHERYL SCHWEIZER/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
The city of Moses Lake is studying the future of transportation as part of its comprehensive plan update, which is the subject of an open house Monday.
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | March 28, 2026 1:36 PM
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake residents are being invited to learn more about and give their opinions on proposed updates to sections of the city’s comprehensive plan at an open house Monday at the Moses Lake Civic Center, 411 S. Balsam St.
Updates are planned for 2027 for the sections on transportation and utilities, land use, zoning and housing, parks and recreation, cultural services, built and natural environments, population growth and economic development.
Mayor Dustin Swartz said state regulations added a requirement for an environmental impact statement, which is also part of the process. But the focus will be on getting information from residents and business owners on their ideas for the city’s future.
“This is an important opportunity for the community to help shape how Moses Lake grows over the next 20 years,” said Deputy Mayor Don Myers in a press release.
Swartz said an updated comprehensive plan is important for a couple of reasons; the ability to compete for state grant and loan programs being one of them.
“It’s a tool that’s great if you want certain grants,” Swartz said.
He cited Safe Streets as an example. The program helps municipalities with transportation projects like sidewalks, but one of the requirements is an up-to-date comprehensive plan.
Grant County officials also are working on updating the county-wide comprehensive plan, he said, and Moses Lake’s comp plan will be included in that.
“The county is really focusing on it for 2027,” Swartz said. “I’m excited to see what the ideas are.”
That will be important when city and county officials start talking about joint projects, like a second crossing of Moses Lake. The idea of a second crossing is in the very early discussion stages, but planning done now will be important when city and county officials go looking for funding, Swartz said.
“It really is advantageous to have (the comprehensive plan) well thought-out,” he said.
Comprehensive plans are 20-year projections, and things have changed in Moses Lake in 20 years. Swartz said it’s advantageous that the parks plan is part of the update, since the city has more park space than the existing plan requires.
“Some things in there will look distinctly different than they have in the past,” he said.
OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE
March 30
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.
Moses Lake Civic Center
411 S. Balsam St.
The city of Moses Lake is studying the future of transportation as part of its comprehensive plan update, which is the subject of an open house Monday.ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Road projects on hold for Labor Day weekend
MOSES LAKE — With Labor Day weekend dead ahead, drivers will be able to move freely about the state. Most road projects are on hold for the holiday weekend. Nobody will be working on the Hansen Road overpass on Interstate 90, but the lane restrictions that are in effect will continue through the end of the project.
Cost estimates for water source alternatives given to Moses Lake City Council
Protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, efforts are ongoing to keep it self-sufficient
MOSES LAKE — It’s going to cost a lot of money to provide alternative water sources for the city of Moses Lake, but some of the possible alternatives will cost more than others. City officials provided the Moses Lake City Council with costs for various alternatives Tuesday.
Dryer vent cleaning is important -- but often overlooked
MOSES LAKE — Not all the maintenance a house needs is visible. Sometimes a potential problem just goes unnoticed until it causes trouble, sometimes serious trouble. But a lot of potential problems give off warning signs. Clothes dryers often do when they need a good cleaning.