Jessica Blakely, a Polk County resident and affordable housing specialist at the Housing Authority for the city of Salem, interviewed for a seat on the Polk County Planning Commission on Nov. 25. She told commissioners population growth and housing production strategy are the county’s most pressing land-use issues and urged updating the county comprehensive plan to reflect current data and planning priorities.

“Population growth is a huge…is something that's gonna really impact the county,” Blakely said, arguing the county must balance growth with preserving its rural character and ensuring infrastructure can support new housing. Blakely said she reviewed neighboring cities’ housing production strategies — including Monmouth, Independence and Dallas — and recommended better county–city coordination so the county is not surprised by requests to swap land or to expand urban growth boundaries.

Blakely told the board she found portions of the county’s comprehensive plan unclear and difficult to research. “I would like to see, you know, where is that really held? Where can I find that information?” she said, recommending more regular planning commission meetings and clearer archives so commissioners and the public can track historical decisions and policy intent.

On state planning requirements, Blakely said Oregon’s statewide goals provide a useful baseline but suggested Polk County could be more restrictive in specific areas where local conditions warrant it, naming wildfire-risk zones, floodplains, high-value farmland and sensitive natural resources as possible candidates for stricter local rules.

Commissioners pressed Blakely on Senate Bill 100 and on local drinking-water and wastewater capacity. Blakely said she had not yet fully researched SB 100’s implications for Polk County and emphasized that infrastructure constraints should be addressed before large-scale residential expansion. She suggested alternatives to large subdivisions — such as accessory dwelling units and middle housing — as ways to add housing supply without overburdening water and sewer systems.

Blakely also described her experience working with diverse stakeholders, citing two years on the Department of Land Conservation and Development’s rulemaking advisory committee and service on technical advisory groups during the Oregon housing needs analysis process. She said those roles taught her to listen to varied perspectives, including advocacy groups and people with disabilities, and to seek common solutions.

The board concluded the interview by thanking Blakely and saying they would deliberate after completing all applicant interviews and notify her of their decision.