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October is National Community Planning Month, following a proclamation approved by the Washington County Board of Commissioners during its regular meeting today (Oct. 4). National Community Planning Month highlights the important role of planning in our communities.
Washington County Department of Land Use & Transportation planning work includes development review, land use and transportation planning work. That work has local, regional, state and federal implications.
“Washington County’s planners work diligently towards improving the well-being of all people in our community,” said Erin Wardell, Interim Planning and Development Services Manager. “Planning helps create safe, healthy and economically vibrant communities.”
The Current Planning section works with developers, consultants and others to make sure development in the unincorporated area meets County, state and Metro codes.
“Along with our usual pace of land partition and subdivision applications, we anticipate a busy year ahead implementing Ordinance 885, the ‘middle housing’ ordinance adopted by the Board in July," said Steve Shane, Principal Planner, Current Planning. "The ordinance is expected to facilitate new housing opportunities for landowners throughout urban unincorporated residential areas.”
“We are working hard to make it easier to build a wider range of housing types,” said Theresa Cherniak, Principal Planner, Community Planning. “This will help with affordability and housing choice for everyone.”
Along with the middle housing efforts, short-term rental regulations and ongoing work with significant natural resources made up the bulk of the Community Planning work group tasks this year.
Transportation Planning staff continues to focus on a countywide Transit Study, using data from the Washington County Transportation Futures Study and First and Last Mile studies. Another focus is the Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program (MSTIP), a proactive road improvement program considering the needs of bicyclist, pedestrian, driver and transit passenger users. They are also planning the Council Creek Regional Trail, a pedestrian pathway between downtown Hillsboro and Forest Grove.
National Community Planning Month, sponsored by the American Planning Association, highlights the significant impact planning has on growing communities. Read the proclamation