Comprehensive Plan Update

DID YOU KNOW? 

For the first time in over 30 years, we are updating our Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

Welcome to the official site for the Cowlitz County Comprehensive Plan update.  This is an exciting time for our County!

WHY IS THIS EXCITING?  Comprehensive Plans or “Comp Plans” establish a collective vision of what a community desires to be in 15-20 years.  This becomes the roadmap – in the form of stated values or “guiding principles”, goals, and policies –to address growth and development in a positive and constructive manner with the public’s input.  These goals and policies are used to make decisions about land use, regulations, and public and private investments. 

The Cowlitz County Comp Plan update is an opportunity to renew the County’s roadmap so that we may continue to manage growth responsibly to affirm that “Cowlitz County is a great place to live”!

The COMP PLAN UPDATE kick-off started this summer with a variety of interactive, hands-on visioning activities to collect information for our Vision.  A Steering Committee was convened to lead these activities at community fairs, chamber of commerce meetings, the Longview Farmers’ Market, Senior Centers, schools, and other neighborhood events.   There was even an online survey that asked what people thought about living in Cowlitz County –best and worst- and how the county should grow over the next 20 years, to 2030.

All of this was used to develop our Vision Statement and Guiding Principles.  A series of three workshops were held in October where we asked you to tell us if we got it right.  Our work continues and there will be many more ways to participate.

THIS IS A CALL FOR ACTION - for county and city officials, community leaders, residents, land owners, business owners, and other key stakeholders to work together to develop an achievable plan that will be used to help make many important decisions in our county.  

Please take a moment to learn more about this effort and how you can get involved.  This site contains meeting dates, agendas, and minutes, and important documents for your review.  To find information, click on the bold text or use the links on the side of the page.