Battle Ground releases draft comprehensive plan update; council sets Dec. 1 public hearing

Battle Ground'9s planning staff and consultants summarized a draft comprehensive plan update at the Nov. 3 council meeting and set a public hearing for Dec. 1.

Consultant Ben Hahn said the update incorporates prior planning products (land use master plan, transportation plan updates, PROS plan and the new old-downtown plan) and addresses required Growth Management Act elements including housing, capital facilities, transportation, utilities, parks, environment and a newly required climate element. Staff and the consultant presented a preferred growth alternative that follows the city'9s 2021 land use master plan and includes the addition of Dollar'9s Corner to the city'9s urban growth area.

"Working with numbers from the Office of Financial Management and Clark County, our allocation through 2045 is 6,979 households and 8,859 jobs," Ben Hahn said. "With the preferred alternative, and including county allocations for construction and work-from-home jobs, the plan demonstrates capacity for about 8,000 households and roughly 9,777 jobs through 2045."

Councilmembers asked for clearer breakdowns by income band, sought a short study-session review of key elements and asked staff to highlight implications of the county'9s agricultural land study when it is released. Planning staff said the planning commission has recommended approval and that staff is prepared to complete the plan this year, with final adoption to align with Clark County decisions on urban growth boundary expansions.

An open house is scheduled for Nov. 19 at the Battleground Event Center to review the draft plan with the public. Council set the public hearing for Dec. 1 so the council can consider public comment and the planning commission recommendation ahead of any adoption vote.