Clark County councilors are working on a growth plan for the next twenty years in that part of southwest Washington.
Clark County / Clark County
Clark County councilors are under pressure to approve growth plans. They heard support Tuesday from county and city officials but doubts from local residents.
The growth decisions, which will guide future development, are up to the Clark County commission. City leaders from around the county made their cases to commissioners Tuesday in support of urbanizing 300 acres near Battle Ground, La Center, Ridgefield and Washougal.
But the local residents who showed up raised questions about the plans.
James Brunberg opposed changes for a wooded area near Washougal and echoed the concerns of many opponents that the new growth strategy will hurt the environment.
"Two hundred houses or more, roughly 250, onto that single parcel of land? I'm urging you to vote 'no' on this," Brunberg said.
Jim Malinowski was one of several people who wanted fewer constraints on rural development. He opposed the growth strategy supported by city leaders and county planners and instead backed an alternative plan spearheaded by county Commissioner David Madore.
"I believe you need to explain to the rural citizens of this county why it's OK for our county to have far more restrictive rural zoning than any other county in the state," Malinowski told county leaders.
Clark County staffers want the commission to agree on growth plans soon so they can meet legal deadlines.