Shelton creating new plan

The City of Shelton started preliminary work on a new comprehensive plan for a city whose residents are younger, poorer, less educated and more likely to rent than surrounding communities.

Demographics of the city's population was one of the topics when the Shelton City Council heard updates on the comprehensive plan development at a study session Jan. 23 at the Shelton Civic Center.

In October, the city kicked off the process of developing the comprehensive plan, which isn't slated to be adopted until spring 2025. It also selected a steering committee, led by City Council member Miguel Gutierrez. The committee includes two former commission/council members - Mike Olsen and Deidre Peterson - and Levi Brown, Anthony Freiss, Amanda Mintz and Isa Radojcic.

At the work session, Jae Hill, the city's community and economic development director, defined the roles in developing the plan that will guide growth and development. City employees will lead the update of the plan in compliance with the Growth Management Act, manage the project, and direct communication among residents, stakeholders, staff and elected officials.

SCJ Alliance will work with city staff in updating the process, providing technical support and "additional depth." The City Council will provide overall strategy and guidance and is responsible for adopting the plan. The steering committee, selected to represents many perspectives, will vet draft materials, foster public conversation and promote public events.

Updating the public on the process will include a dedicated page on the city's website, social media, utility bill inserts, newspapers, parent organization newsletters and events that include the Saturday Farmers Market and OysterFest. The city will also consult with local tribes, the Skokomish and Squaxin Island.

"We want to hear everyone's ideas first," Hill said.

Hill also offered a picture of the town's demographics, some of which provide challenges for growth. Shelton residents are younger, have lower income and are more likely to rent than Washingtonians overall, he said.

The median household income in Shelton in 2021 was about $48,000, compared with the Mason County median of $80,139 and Thurston County at $88,853. The town's population is growing more slowly than the rest of Mason County and the state.

Almost 19% of Shelton residents ages 25 and older have an education less than a diploma or GED, lower than the average education levels in Mason County (9.8%) and the state (7.8%). The city report states that fewer than 3% of residents have a master's or professional degree, which "affects job attraction and retention."

In Shelton, 48.4% of residents own their home and 51.6% rent. In Mason County, 82.5% of residents own their home and 17.5% rent.

According to SCJ Alliance, Shelton's population was an estimated 10,430 in 2022 and continues to grow slowly, more slowly than the county and the state. The population projection for Shelton in 2044 is 11,897, which means the city will need to accommodate 1,467 new residents by 2044. The company noted that 91.5% of the city's residents are white and the median age is 31.8 years old, almost 6.5 years younger than the median age in the state.