Washougal staff recommend land-use Alternative 1; council schedules April hearings

Washougal city planning staff recommended the city adopt “Alternative 1” as the preferred land-use alternative for the update to the comprehensive plan, saying it meets county and state allocation targets and poses fewer infrastructure and traffic risks than the denser, job-focused Alternative 2.

The recommendation came during a council work session Monday, March 24, where planning staff explained the two alternatives, an infrastructure assessment, public engagement results and next steps. Jessica, a member of the project team, told the council the city must plan to accommodate a population of just under 25,000 by 2045 — roughly 3,700 housing units — and an adjusted job target of about 2,100–2,500 positions supplied by county and state allocations.

Staff said Alternative 1 generally retains the existing zoning pattern but factors state middle-housing laws and accessory-dwelling-unit (ADU) allowances into capacity projections; the model assumes a substantial rate of middle-housing and ADU development and projects a larger possible unit count as a result. That approach, staff told council, concentrates more housing in the downtown and waterfront areas and reserves town-center parcels for a mix of housing and jobs.…