Climate Change – Friends of Clark County in SW Washington

April 23, 2024

Read About our Priorities on Housing in the Comp Plan Update

in Accountability, Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Farmland & Forests, Housing & Transportation, Local Food Systems, Parks, Trails, & Open Spaces, Position Statements & Policy Recommendations

We provided public comment at the Population, Housing, and Employment Hearing today emphasizing two important points: 1) Nothing in the current studies, reviews, or discussions justifies any urban growth area (UGA) expansions. This position has been echoed by Clark County’s cities and by Community Development. Although both the Department of Commerce and Community […]

April 23, 2024

Clark County Needs an Agricultural Commission

in Climate Change, Farmland & Forests, Local Food Systems

Over the past several years, members of the farming community, including Friends of Clark County, Clark/Cowlitz Farm Bureau, local farmers market organizers, and the Clark Conservation District have expressed to Clark County the need for agricultural interests to be represented in Clark County government. Currently, there are NO voices representing the agricultural community while the […]

March 15, 2024

Preserving Farming and Local Food in Clark County: March 2024 Forum

in Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Events & Fundraising, Farmland & Forests, Local Food Systems, Position Statements & Policy Recommendations, Responsible Development, Wildlife Habitats

Thanks to all who attended our March 2024 Forum on Preserving Farming and Local Food in Clark County! And thank you again to our knowledgeable panelists! In case you missed it, or in case you want to go back and review all the great information that was shared, you can view the recording here: And […]

February 28, 2024

Join us for our upcoming forum: Preserving Farmland and Local Food Access in Clark County

in Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Events & Fundraising, Farmland & Forests, Local Food Systems

Forum Date and Time: March 14th, 2024 from 5 – 6:30 pm Pacific Time Location: Remote Only via Zoom; Register on Eventbrite Join Friends of Clark County for a panel discussion on the importance of preserving farmland and access to local food in Clark County. Farmland is being lost throughout the United States, but Clark […]

February 26, 2024

Legislative Update – February 2024

in Climate Change, Housing & Transportation, Position Statements & Policy Recommendations, Railroad, Responsible Development

The mid-session cutoff in the Washington State Legislature happened on February 13th. This means that the bills that did not get voted out of their chamber of origin are considered dead. There exists a chance for bills to be resurrected in the budget process, but this is rare. Following is an update on bills that […]

February 26, 2024

Farmer’s Corner: Representing Farmers in Planning for Climate Change

in Climate Change, Farmland & Forests, Local Food Systems

Our guest article comes from Trish Haggerty of Dilish Farm in Vancouver, WA. Trish is a farmer, small business owner, and a food security and environmental justice advocate in Clark County. She represents the Farm & Food Justice Network on the newly formed Clark County Environmental Justice Coalition (EJC) in order to support the county […]

February 26, 2024

Responsible Planning for Growth: The 2025 Comprehensive Plan – February 2024 update

in Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Housing & Transportation, Parks, Trails, & Open Spaces, Position Statements & Policy Recommendations, Railroad, Responsible Development

What is the Comp Plan? The Growth Management Act (GMA) was adopted in 1990 to address growth in Washington State. Cities in counties over a certain size must do periodic Comp Plan updates in accordance with the GMA, while smaller counties may choose to do so. Cities within a county that plans under the GMA […]

February 26, 2024

Heritage Farm Sustainability Plan: Reconsider in Light of Climate Change and the Public Good

in Climate Change, Farmland & Forests, Parks, Trails, & Open Spaces, Position Statements & Policy Recommendations

Heritage Farm is a 79-acre historic poor farm owned by Clark County and located just off of 78th Street in Hazel Dell. It is the site of many wonderful agricultural projects, mostly run by WSU Clark County Extension, including programs for agricultural research and education, food preservation, and health and wellness. In addition, rental garden […]

December 28, 2023

Growth Management and Comprehensive Plan Update – December 2023

in Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Farmland & Forests, Housing & Transportation, Parks, Trails, & Open Spaces, Responsible Development, Wildlife Habitats

Turning Long-Range Planning into Current Reality Over the next 18 months, Clark County will be updating its Comprehensive Plan as required by the Growth Management Act (GMA). Thirty years ago, Clark County engaged residents in its first long-range planning effort.

May 23, 2023

Spring 2023 Legislative Recap

in Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Housing & Transportation, Position Statements & Policy Recommendations

Two bills that our friends at Futurewise were championing this year passed, hurray! HB 1181 was signed into law, adding climate change considerations into the Growth Management Act (GMA). This requires Comprehensive Plans to include considerations both for Climate resilience (think wildfires, flooding, heat, sea level rise…) and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and Vehicle Miles Traveled. […]