Airway Heights objects to two proposed county planning policies, urges optional language and limits on data burden

Planning Director Heather Troutman told council July 6 that two proposed countywide planning policies — Policy 7 (affordable housing/homeownership goals) and Policy 11 (monitoring growth) — would impose requirements beyond state growth‑management mandates and could require cities to incur data‑collection costs.

Troutman said Policy 7 adds goals for homeownership and would make some items mandatory for every jurisdiction; she recommended modifying the language to make homeownership goals optional for jurisdictions under 50,000 population and to remove language limiting apartments. "As we've heard from our affordable housing community providers, it is very, very difficult to provide ownership opportunities for households at 50% or less of area median income," Troutman said.

On Policy 11, Troutman cautioned that the draft would give the steering committee and county commission powers not in state law to monitor and make adjustments to growth targets before the state's mandatory check‑in. She said the city recommends deferring adoption until jurisdictions have adequate opportunity to comment. Council approved sending suggested changes and authorized the city’s letter to the steering committee; a steering‑committee meeting was noted for July 15.