Camas seeks input on ‘Our Camas 2045’ and ‘Our Downtown Camas 2045’ plans

The city of Camas is undertaking a multi-year initiative to update the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The Our Camas 2045 comprehensive plan will establish a vision for growth and development and will articulate goals, objectives, policies and actions to guide the City’s future through 2045. 

The plan will also address recent changes to Washington’s Growth Management Act related to housing and climate change. 

In conjunction with Our Camas 2045, the City is developing a downtown subarea plan to establish a more detailed vision and action plan to catalyze public and private investment in our historic downtown that preserves and enhances its unique sense of place. The “Our Downtown Camas 2045” plan will be a visionary roadmap that honors our rich heritage and maintains Camas’ “hometown feel” while setting the stage for a thriving future. 

Community members will have many opportunities throughout the project to share what they think makes Camas special, what is important to protect, and what they would like to see in the future.  They can register to participate on the project website at EngageCamas.com to participate in the following activities and events:

• Join the conversation. Register your email via the “Join the Conversation” link to participate in the online activities and get project updates.
• Participate online. Follow links on the project website to an online survey and interactive map to share your thoughts about Camas today and in the future.
• Host a community conversation. Community organizations, groups and clubs are invited to request a vision session or host their own using a “community conversation kit” available on the website.

“Our Camas 2045 is a collaborative effort to define the future of the community, so we’re doing everything we can to hear from everybody we can and make sure they feel welcome, valued, and empowered to be a part of this process,” said Alan Peters, the city of Camas’ community development director.  “Our community’s input is the foundation of Our Camas 2045.”

The Comprehensive Plan is Camas’s primary land use planning document. It establishes a series of goals and policies that guide growth and development in Camas over the next 20 years, including all activities related to natural and man-made systems and services. City leaders use the Plan to manage expected population and employment growth, coordinate public investments and make decisions about new shops and businesses, housing and neighborhoods, transportation, parks, and trails, and more.

Camas last updated its comprehensive plan 9 years ago. Since then, the City has experienced pronounced growth and development. Today, Camas is a community of 27,420 and is expected to grow to nearly 38,000 by 2045. The purpose of a comprehensive plan update is to reevaluate and update the goals, objectives, policies, and actions in response to public input, new state requirements, and changes in existing and future conditions.

More details about community events will be announced on the Our Camas 2045 and Our Downtown Camas 2045 website, which can be found online at EngageCamas.com.