Douglas County seeks public input for comprehensive growth plan through 2046

DOUGLAS COUNTY — A new survey available to residents of Douglas County marks the beginning of a planning process for 20-year growth in the area through guidelines established under the state’s Growth Management Act.

The planning process must, under the law, be completed no later than June 30, 2026. The County’s plan contains ten elements which guide the vision, goals, and policies for future growth and development of the county. Leaders seek participation from everyone who lives, works or plays in Douglas County.

The term “comprehensive plan” can seem like jargon, so the way the County articulates it is as a vision that not just leaders but residents can work together on. That includes goals, objectives, policies and actions that would serve as a roadmap for future updates to the zoning code, the tool by which future development is guided.

That vision includes:

• Land use
• Rural lands
• Housing
• Resource land
• Transportation
• Capital facilities and utilities
• Economic development
• Critical areas
• Park and Recreation

As you can see, there are many factors that the County must include, and input from the community is essential in order for the public to have a stake in what happens with the area they live in. Importantly, the Growth Management Act requires that Counties update their plan every decade, in order to make sure that the plan remains relevant to both necessity and to the current population of the area when the plan is updated. For example, if there was a large demographic shift across a decade, the vision outlined by the previous period of public input may not reflect what’s important to those who live in Douglas County when the update occurs.

There are multiple ways for the community to get involved, beginning with a 5–10 minute survey the County has made available here. You can expect to see questions about aspects of Douglas County that are then rated by you on a scale of “Great Weakness” to “Great Strength” as far as how you feel the County addresses those issues.

A survey is a great way to get started, but there will also be in-person opportunities to make your voice heard on topics that may not be addressed in the survey. So the County will be holding Community Open House Events, something that has been happening since late last year. In November, open houses were held in Bridgeport and Mansfield, then in April, there was one in Waterville.

Updates for future open house events, which will take place in Coulee Dam, East Wenatchee, and Rock Island, will be posted on the County’s website at douglascountywa.net, your source for almost everything related to Douglas County.

If you want to make your voice heard regarding everything from investments of taxpayer money to community programs and even development plans, the County wants to hear from you.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media