Important Public Service Opportunity: Apply for the Planning Commission!
The County is seeking applicants for the Planning Commission. The term is 6 years, begins in January 2025, and meets twice a month.
The Planning Commission is a seven-member committee that makes recommendations to the council on land-use planning, zoning and development in unincorporated Clark County. The commission also makes recommendations on issues such as growth management, roads, public facilities, development regulations and applicable county ordinances.
Recent topics have included Comprehensive Plan components, Biannual Code Amendments, the Aging Readiness Plan, housing codes, and the Chelatchie Bluff Surface Mining Overlay (SMO).
While most of the current Planning Commission members have ties to the building industry, that is not a requirement; in fact, the community would be better represented by having more diversity on the Planning Commission, which is exactly what we need at this critical moment in our county’s history when we must depart from business-as-usual to tackle the crises we face, from the climate emergency to housing.
We need people who represent different perspectives. For example, not everyone has or wants a single family home with a yard. Many younger folks and others understand that smart land use planning (building densely, improving public transportation, walkability, and micromobility, preserving agricultural and forest land) brings down the cost of living and improves the quality of life for everyone. The Planning Commission would be well served by someone who represents the interests of the public good, not the interests of a particular industry.
You can see who serves and get info on prior Planning Committee meetings here: Planning Commission | Clark County (wa.gov)
Link to the announcement here: County council seeks volunteer for the Planning Commission | Clark County (wa.gov)
Don’t be shy. Apply!
Submitted by Jackie Lane