County posts agricultural land study; staff say it will inform preferred alternative

Clark County staff notified the planning commission on Nov. 6 that an agricultural land study requested by the council was posted to the project web page on Nov. 4. Oliver Ojeko said consultants Eco Northwest and Triangle Associates completed the study and staff will distribute it to commissioners and stakeholders.

Staff explained the study is countywide in scope, focused on lands currently designated agricultural and certain rural zoning categories; it excludes forest lands, mining and lands in the scenic Gorge because those uses were not part of the council’s scope for this analysis. The study will inform whether and how agricultural lands could be considered for inclusion in urban growth areas, but Ojeko cautioned that adding agricultural land to a UGA requires going through the county’s ag‑designation process.

The agricultural advisory commission is scheduled to review the study on Nov. 19. Staff told commissioners the study will serve as supporting evidence that the council can use when deciding how to shape the preferred alternative and whether supplemental environmental review is needed if council changes go beyond what the DEIS examined.

Staff committed to email the study to planning commissioners and make it available on the project website; no formal actions occurred during the work session.