Council to move forward with resolution allowing Vancouver Housing Authority to operate in unincorporated county

Clark County Councilors instructed staff to update and schedule a draft resolution that would grant the Vancouver Housing Authority (VHA) blanket authorization to operate in unincorporated Clark County without returning to council for project-by-project approval.

Jordan Bogie, senior policy analyst, told the council that state statute currently allows the Vancouver Housing Authority to operate in the City of Vancouver and within a five-mile radius outside city limits under RCW 35.82.070; VHA seeks a county resolution that would let the agency proceed within unincorporated county boundaries without seeking council approval for each project. Bogie said he contacted Andy Silver, VHA director, who was not aware of any time a VHA project had been blocked by the county; some projects have been denied by other jurisdictions.

Bogie described three reasons VHA requests blanket authorization: it lets the agency act quickly “at the speed of the market” when property opportunities arise; it avoids extra public processes that could jeopardize time-sensitive deals; and it could encourage smaller jurisdictions in the county to adopt similar resolutions.

Councilors expressed support and asked staff to revise the draft resolution and place it on an upcoming Tuesday meeting for formal council approval. Chair Marshall and multiple councilors voiced the same substantive view: removing a procedural barrier may help affordable-housing development in a tight market.

Ending

Staff will return an updated resolution for a formal vote at a future Tuesday meeting; no final vote occurred at the Feb. 26 council time session.