Clark County planning commission readies Aug. 20 hearing on comprehensive-plan update

Carl Johnson, chairman of the Clark County Planning Commission, opened the Aug. 6 work session and laid out the agenda for the commission’s upcoming hearing on the comprehensive-plan update, which he described as covering map, policy and code changes. Staff told commissioners the update process began in 2022, was kicked off in January 2023 and is now in the adoption phase; the commission’s August 20 hearing will be followed by council review and hearings in October.

Oliver Ojeko of community planning told the commission the packet includes issue paper 8 (a summary of proposed amendments), a decision table that lists the preferred alternative and map changes, and appendices with technical materials commissioners should review before the hearing. "I can only say that we are now in the adoption process starting from project initiation, shaping of the plan, review and refinement," Ojeko said. Commissioners agreed the packet materials, including the EIS and appendices, will be used during the hearing and that the commission should identify specific policies they want to amend in advance so deliberations are efficient.

The staff timeline given at the session sets the Aug. 20 commission hearing, a reserved Sept. 3 follow-up date for deliberations if needed, and council work sessions and hearings on Oct. 6 and Oct. 13. Staff recommended commissioners bring specific policy amendments to the hearing rather than trying to re-run all prior workshops; any motion that passes the commission will be forwarded, with staff recommendations, to the council for its consideration.