After nearly two months of delays, the Clark County council directed planning staff to present the Comprehensive Growth Management Plan update to the community for feedback.
At a workshop Wednesday, Councilor David Madore presented an updated draft of Alternative 4 of the plan to county staff and representatives from Clark County’s cities. The alternative, developed by Clark County council staff, would recognize 6,500 currently existing parcels that were rezoned to resource lands in 1994, Madore said.
If adopted, the plan will put parcels that are currently not in compliance back into compliance.
Rural land owners say that rezoning adopted during the creation of Clark County’s first Comprehensive Growth Management Plan left rural landowners in a holding pattern, preventing many from developing or updating their property.
Responding to concerns of rural land owners, the county council directed staff in January to not write an environmental impact statement for the previous three alternatives.
Though Madore said the plan is unlikely to have any legal repercussions or make an environmental impact, Community Planning Director Oliver Orjiako said Wednesday was the first time staff saw the updated Alternative 4, and they will have to evaluate the plan to make sure it’s in line with state law.
“The Alternative 4 map as presented today will need further refinement,” Orjiako said.
Councilor Jeanne Stewart agreed that staff need time to determine whether adopting Alternative 4 could pose any legal challenges.
“I have some hesitation that we need to go through this carefully,” Stewart said.
Rural land owner representative Jim Malinowski, meanwhile, urged Clark County to move forward with Alternative 4.
Stewart and Madore directed staff to open the alternatives for public comment. Councilor Tom Mielke had to leave partway through the meeting.
Planning staff also presented updates to Alternative 3, which includes expansion to cities’ urban growth boundaries. La Center, Ridgefield and Battle Ground have all applied to add land to their borders.
Clark County will hold two open houses on the Comprehensive Growth Management Plan. The first is at 5:30 p.m. March 25 at Ridgefield High School, 2630 S. Hillhurst Road in Ridgefield. The second will be at 5:30 p.m. April 1 at Hockinson High School, 16819 N.E. 159th St. in Brush Prairie.
A county council hearing on the growth management plan is tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m. April 14 at the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St. in Vancouver.
The county needs to submit the final plan, with board approval, to the state Commerce Department by April 30, 2016.
