Clark County Growth Plan Delayed, Cities Push for Housing

0:00Clark County's 20-year growth plan is running way behind schedule. It's already overdue by three months, and now they push the finish line to October 6th instead of end of June. A few other Washington counties like San Juan, Whatcom, and Thurston are in the same boat with their updates due this year or sooner. Small cities like Ridgefield are asking to stretch their urban growth boundaries and reason land for denser use, which slow things down big time. Neighboring spots like Calitz and Scamania don't have to worry until 2026. Ridgefield City Manager says noncompliance and a huge deal right now, mainly risking some public works loans that got cut anyway by the state. Legislature $375 million diverted, even with 279.5 million in new bonds added, but groups like Friends of Clark County are pressing hard, filing a petition to force the old deadline with the hearings' border view back on March. 25th still waiting on a call. The county's dash compliance issues before, like losing over 6 million in grants last year over a zoning glitch.

1:02They got a study showing 98% of farm land still good to go, but cities question it and push for more housing and mixed use spots, hitting nearly 8 units per acre against the county's 6-unit goal. County Council wrapped a key work session. March 25th, next up, a public hearing on the full growth map with zoning tweaks and boundary. Shifts, no date yet, but they're aiming to wrap this up right and keep the momentum rolling. That's your Vancouver News today update, AI powered and always on.