The discussion centers on Clark County's comprehensive plan update and whether to expand Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) to accommodate future housing and commercial development. Opponents of expansion argue that existing UGAs already have sufficient capacity, warning that further rezoning would destroy prime agricultural land, cause urban sprawl, and worsen infrastructure deficits due to unresolved concurrency issues. Conversely, city representatives, developers, and some property owners advocate for targeted UGA expansions and light-industrial rezoning, asserting that current buildable lands are constrained and suggesting Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) programs to balance this growth.
Building_development
Clark County Council · Apr 27, 2026 · 1:58:28–1:58:41 · Watch on CVTV ↗
Keywords: capital facilities PUD UGA concurrency comprehensive plan subdivision zoning rezoning affordable housing annexation Density density infrastructure
What was said
1:57:27 within existing urban growth areas, meaning there is no legal reason to expand the UGAs. Clark County's preferred alternative for the comp plan should reflect this reality. Expansion of the current UGAs and paving over hundreds of acres of prime farmland for expensive, sprawling, emissions-inducing development is not necessary. Additionally, the 2025 ag land study found that all currently designated ag lands meet the legal criteria for designation in Washington state law. The study also included that Clark County has additional high-quality soils in our rural areas that are not currently designated as ag lands, but meet the criteria for designation. Hundreds of acres of designated agricultural land with prime soils and additional ag-quality rural land
1:58:26 will be destroyed if the cities are permitted their UGA expansions for development. These lands represent an invaluable community resource. Considering the need to feed our growing population and climate change resiliency, we must protect the farm industry and jobs they represent. Furthermore, Friends of Clark County agrees with the comp plan recommendations of the Clark County Ag Advisory Commission on the subject of transfer of development rights, and additionally recommends a policy to be included in the 2025 comprehensive plan update that commits to developing a farmland protection program within 12 months of the completion of the 2025 plan. We strongly support a program that aligns with the GMA that's countywide and actually protects existing ag land
1:59:24 and potential ag land. There should be no de-designation of ag land as part of the 2025 comprehensive plan process. Thank you for the opportunity to provide knowledgeable and factual input into the plan. Thank you very much.
Evidence (1 match)
direct keyword 1:58:28–1:58:41 capital facilities, PUD, UGA, concurrency, comprehensive plan, subdivision, zoning, rezoning, affordable housing, annexation, Density, density, infrastructure
l areas that are not currently designated as ag lands, but meet the criteria for designation. Hundreds of acres of designated agricultural land with prime soils and additional ag-quality rural land will be destroyed if the cities are permitted their UGA expansions for development. These lands represent an invaluable community resource. Considering the need to feed our growing population and climate change resiliency, we must protect the farm industry and jobs they represent. Furthermore, Friends