Community Development kicks off 2026 comprehensive-plan update; commissioners press for stronger Planning Commission engagement

Community Development Director Lauren Prentice told the Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 3 that consultants from Kimley‑Horn have begun internal scoping for Wallowa County’s 2026 periodic comprehensive‑plan update and that staff held a formal kickoff and technical meetings with public‑works and facilities staff.

Prentice said she has scheduled one‑on‑one meetings with each commissioner to brief them on the work plan and upcoming issues. She also said the department will involve the Planning Commission at every stage and expects the commission to meet monthly; special meetings were likely given the workload. “They will be involved at every stage,” Prentice said of the Planning Commission.

Commissioners pressed the department to increase outreach and the practical use of the Planning Commission. Commissioner Kimball said the commission has members “really knowledgeable, and really want to get to work,” and asked staff to step up communication and packet delivery. Prentice acknowledged recent staffing disruption (a planner left in December) caused a December notification oversight but said the department has corrected notice procedures and will rely on the new associate planner joining Feb. 19 to help with GIS and transportation analysis.

Prentice also outlined an operational problem: the county’s review and permitting processes can miss coordination points where applicants obtain an access/driveway permit or an environmental‑health septic or well approval without applying for a county building or grading permit. That can leave owners partway through construction before county planning issues surface. The department has begun receiving lists from Public Works and Environmental Health and is emailing applicants who appear not to be in contact, but Prentice said responses have been mixed. She described possible approaches, from better automatic notification to a more formal “site clearance” code amendment — but cautioned such an ordinance would increase workload and could slow development without additional staff.

Prentice said she and her deputy already hold monthly coordination meetings with Public Works and Environmental Health and that staff are troubleshooting permit lists to identify uncoordinated projects. She will return proposals to the board if staff deem code changes or procedural changes necessary.

Ending: Commissioners asked Community Development to expand outreach to the Planning Commission and improve proactive coordination with Public Works and Environmental Health to reduce late-stage compliance problems. The department will continue monthly coordination and will present options if a code amendment or site-review step is recommended.