The Clark County Council reviewed proposed changes to the county development code during a July 22 work session, focusing on measures to increase housing density and reduce the number of parking spaces required for new residential projects. According to reporting by The Columbian, these adjustments are intended for inclusion in the county’s 20-year growth plan.

The session occurred the same day the council met as the board of health to discuss future fee schedules, as previously reported on July 31. The housing density and parking revisions align with state legislative reforms passed in 2025, identified in county documents as HB 5184.

Elizabeth Decker, a consultant with Portland-based JET Planning, told the council that the code changes are designed to meet state mandates aimed at lowering development costs. Official records from Clark County indicate the state legislature identified parking requirements as a significant contributor to the cost of new housing.

The legislative intent behind the 2025 reforms also cited environmental and health concerns. According to county documents, the state sought to reduce an "excessive reliance (on) automobiles with attendant impacts on human health and greenhouse gas emissions."

These planning discussions follow the county’s recent release of its Final Environmental Impact Statement for the regional comprehensive growth management plan, as previously reported on August 4. The proposed code adjustments represent a concrete step in implementing the state-mandated updates to that plan.

The council’s review of these density measures comes during a period of sustained regional growth. As previously reported on August 13, Clark County’s gross domestic product grew by 3.4 percent between 2023 and 2024, a rate driven in part by population increases and new development.

Source: Council mulls increasing housing density, cutting parking