La Center planning commission reviews draft ‘minor elements’ of comprehensive plan; staff seeks feedback on economic, historic and notice policies

La Center planning staff presented a first draft of the comprehensive plan’s nonrequired “minor elements” at the December 10 planning commission meeting, asking commissioners for feedback on updated job and commuting statistics, recognition of historic sites, coordination with the Cowlitz Tribe and revisions to the city code’s noticing and Type 4 review procedures.

Alec, planning staff, told commissioners the packet summarized updates to the economic development element, the historic/archaeological/cultural preservation element, the urban growth and annexation element, the government/participation element and procedural code changes to chapter 18.30. “These minor elements are the non required elements of the Growth Management Act, but they’re currently elements in our current comprehensive plan,” Alec said, noting staff had provided commissioners a 14‑day courtesy review before the meeting.

Why it matters: the minor elements set local priorities and help guide development review and code updates even though state law does not require them. Commissioners’ comments will be recorded in a comment matrix and used to revise a second draft for review in January, with a goal of forwarding recommendations to the city council in February.

Key points from the staff presentation

- Economic development: Staff updated job counts and an inflow/outflow map (U.S. Census, 2021). The draft shows 739 people commuting into the city to work, 61 people who both live and work in the center, and about 1,300 people who live in the center but work elsewhere as…