Comprehensive Plan

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Comprehensive Plan Update

The City is in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan.
The Comprehensive Plan is the City’s document that guides land use and growth
The current Comprehensive Plan underwent its last major periodic update in 2016
The City is required to update its plan by June 2025.
The Comprehensive Plan will be updated to meet state requirements AND meet the community’s needs.
La Center needs your help and input to update the Comprehensive Plan.

FAQ

What is a Comprehensive Plan, and why is the City updating it?

A comprehensive plan is a guiding document that contains a community’s vision and goals for how future land use and development will occur. This includes a historical and demographic background of the City and explains the plan’s purpose and community’s vision.
A comprehensive plan contains “elements” or chapters for land use, transportation, housing, parks and recreation, and other key topics.

What revisions are being made to the Comprehensive Plan?

The City will undertake a review and audit of the current Comprehensive Plan and development regulations to determine what updates need to be made.
Each element of the Comprehensive Plan will be reviewed and updated to ensure consistency with other elements of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and with Clark County plans and policies.
The City anticipates that key components of the plan that will be updated will include population growth projections; updates to the land use map; planning for a variety of housing types; and planning for parks and recreational needs of the community.

How will the updates and amendments affect current and future residents in the City?

Comprehensive Plan updates will determine where and what kind of development will occur in the City.
Amendments to the various comprehensive plan elements will shape the City’s future, for example:
- Updates to the Housing element will promote housing that is affordable to a range of incomes.
- Updates to the Parks and Recreation element will identify needed recreational improvements.

How can I get involved?

Attend Planning Commission and Council meetings where the Comprehensive Plan is being discussed. Sign up for emails when new agendas are posted for meetings.
Attend events in the City where staff will be tabling and provide input on the Comprehensive Plan.
- Open House
  - October 2023
  - November 2024

Info

Population Projections

The Clark County Council has recently selected countywide population projections through 2045. The meeting materials (and other 2025 comprehensive plan update information) can be found here.
The selected population projected is expected to be later allocated by the County Council to all County jurisdictions, including La Center, in Fall 2023.
La Center’s selected population allocation will determine how much population, housing, and employment the City will need to accommodate through 2045 and impacts on the existing Urban Growth Area (UGA).

Current Code Updates

Critical Areas

Critical areas include critical aquifer recharge areas (CARAs), fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas (FWHCAs), frequently flooded areas, geologically hazardous areas (erosion, landslide, and seismic hazards), and wetlands. The last review of the CAO with the critical areas checklist was conducted in 2019. As part of the City’s periodic review due in 2025, the City is obligated to bring its CAO up to date with State guidance and BAS issued since 2019.

Manufactured Homes

Update is for compliance with the GMA and consistency with the following State codes: RCW 35A.21.312 and RCW 35.63.160.

Designated manufactured homes are to be permitted where all other single-family site built homes are permitted.

Updates to manufactured home definitions, installation, and siting requirements. Updates also include manufactured home subdivision/communities, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, modular homes, and park models to be consistent with the State.

Family Day Cares

Update is for compliance with the GMA and consistency with the following State codes: RCW 36.70A.450, RCW 43.216,010(1)(c), and WAC 365-196-865.

Family day care providers are be allowed in residential dwellings in all residential and commercial zones

Updates include definition revisions and applying zoning conditions for family day cares which include compliance to building, fire, safety, health code, and business license requirements; conformance to lot and building dimensions of underlying zone; provide a passenger loading area; providing signage in conformance to applicable regulations; noticing requirements; and limiting hours of operations.

Public Engagement

Meetings

Public open house meetings will be noticed in advance on the City’s website, on the City’s social media platforms, in The Columbian, sent out via email to those subscribed for City updates, as mailers to all La Center business owners, and posted on the City’s reader board sign along East 4th Street.

Planning Commission and City Council Joint Workshop 1:
- Focus: Work Plan and Schedule, Public Input and Communications Plan, Population Projections, and Identified Roles
- February 22, 2023
  - Meeting Minutes & Materials
  - Meeting Recording
Planning Commission and City Council Joint Workshop 2:
- Focus: Background Information
- Fall 2023 – Date TBD
Open House 1:
- Focus: Existing Comprehensive Plan, Background Information, and Work Plan
- Fall 2023 – Date TBD
Planning Commission and City Council Joint Workshop 3:
- Focus: Draft Land Use and Housing Elements
- Winter 2024 – Date TBD
Planning Commission and City Council Joint Workshop 4:
- Focus: Capital Facilities, Utilities, Parks and Recreation, and Transportation
- Summer 2024 – Date TBD
Planning Commission and City Council Joint Workshop 5:
- Focus: Economic Development, Historic Archaeological and Cultural Preservation, Urban Growth and Annexation, Environment, and Government
- Fall 2024 – Date TBD
Open House 2:
- Focus: Draft Comprehensive Plan
- Fall 2024 – Date TBD
City Council Hearing:
- Focus: Adoption of updated Comprehensive Plan
- Summer 2025 – Date TBD

Events

Concerts in the Park
- Summer 2024 – Dates Attended TBD
- Sternwheeler Park
La Center Our Days
- Summer 2024 – Date Attended TBD
- Community Center & Holley Park
Farmer’s Market
- Summer 2024 – Dates Attended TBD
- La Center Church
Christmas Tree Lighting
- Sunday, December 3 @ 4:30 pm
- Downtown La Center – 4th Street