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Commissioners approve preliminary 2046 growth targets and housing allocation methodology
Summary
The board adopted preliminary countywide population and housing targets for the 2046 comprehensive plan update and approved the land-capacity analysis methodology; the targets use a 20102020-based projection and allocate growth across cities and unincorporated areas.
The Walla Walla County Board of County Commissioners approved preliminary countywide population growth targets for 2046 on April 21, adopting a projection and allocation method that county staff will use in the required comprehensive-plan periodic update.
The board approved a projection of 73,112 residents for 2046 and accepted the housing-needs allocation and land-capacity analysis methodologies presented by Community Development staff. The vote was 3-0.
Why it matters: Under Washington's Growth Management Act (GMA) process, counties and cities must adopt population and housing targets and then show that their land use plans and urban growth areas (UGAs) can accommodate that growth. County staff said the 73,112 figure falls within the Office of Financial Management(OFM) medium-to-high range and is defensible using 20102020 census trends.
Key details: Community Development Director Lauren Prentiss told commissioners that staff and city planners discussed multiple trend windows and that the 20102020 period—recommended by College Place staff—produced the adopted figure. The board discussed allocations among jurisdictions: the packet indicates the unincorporated county allocation includes a 360-person increase for the Burbank UGA, which equates to roughly 120 housing units over the 20-year period.
Practical next steps: The county will use the state Housing for All planning tool to convert population allocations to housing targets and will run a land-capacity analysis to check UGA boundaries and zoning. Staff said the schedule currently targets June 2026 for completing the update, but noted an extension process is pending at the state level and grant-funded consulting work currently covers consultant costs through June 30, 2026.
Ending: Commissioners said they favored the adopted numbers and noted that the projection can be revisited in 10 years if growth patterns differ from expectations. The boardmotion included a caveat that the targets are pending ratification by the Growth Management Advisory Committee.
