Comprehensive Plan 2026 Periodic Update

Cowlitz County is due to update the 2017 Comprehensive Plan by June of 2026, as a county that is ‘partially planning’ under the Growth Management Act. Input from the public will be sought in many different ways to inform and produce an updated Comprehensive Plan that is reflective of the community’s goals and vision for the county. To help set a framework for the update Building & Planning is forming a steering committee of members with expertise, vision, and involvement in planning and county governance.

Steering Committee meetings are open to the public. Meetings are held every second Tuesday of each month at 3:00 p.m. in the General Meeting Room, on the third floor of the County Administration Building at 207 Fourth Avenue North, Kelso, WA. Meetings are held in-person and virtually via Zoom.

Virtual meeting attendance option: Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87619312398?pwd=bRXmmJQrZbJiuhltZXnbi1SGJqtnjc.1
Meeting ID: 876 1931 2398    Passcode: 2046
Dial in option: +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Next Meeting:  To Be Determined, starting Stakeholder interviews.  Regular Meeting - General Meeting Room

July 8, 2025 Meeting Agenda & Materials
June 10th Meeting Agenda & Materials
May 13th Meeting Agenda & Materials
April 15th Meeting Agenda & Materials

Required Elements of A Periodic update of the Comprehensive Plan: A periodic update of the Comprehensive Plan also includes review and updates to development regulations. Under the GMA, partially planning jurisdictions must review and revise, if necessary, the following as part of the periodic update:

  • Critical areas
  • Natural resource lands (designation of agricultural, forest, and mineral resource lands, if applicable)

As a required component of the periodic update, counties and cities must establish a program that identifies procedures and schedules for the public to participate in the periodic update. The program must also provide for early and continuous public participation and publish opportunities to get involved. Consultation with Tribes, Cities, Ports, Special Districts is part of the outreach program.

  • Updating the Comprehensive Plan map and related maps is an important element.
  • Assessment of Housing Needs for Projected Population Growth is required.
  • The following are the documents, or “deliverables” required to be submitted to Commerce in the periodic update:
    • Comprehensive Plan
    • Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO)
    • Natural resource lands designation - this can be submitted as part of a comprehensive plan "land use" chapter, if one has been adopted, or as a stand-alone document and ordinance