Washington County seeks input on first-ever review of land use code

Washington County is asking residents to weigh in on potential changes to the Community Development Code, the document that governs how land is used and developed throughout the county. The county is performing what it called its first-ever comprehensive review of the code, looking at whether it reflects state law, is easy to navigate and reduces barriers to housing production. An online open house is available through April 5. An in-person open house is scheduled for Tuesday, March 17 at the Washington Street Conference Center in Hillsboro from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., with a presentation at 7 p.m. "The Community Development Code is a huge document," said Theresa Cherniak, the county's Community Planning Section Manager. "After many updates over the years, it has become difficult to navigate. We're identifying what needs to be cleaned up to make it easier to use and help ensure greater clarity and objectivity." Potential updates include removing barriers to housing development, particularly affordable housing, ensuring compliance with state law, simplifying land use districts and combining redundant rules. "We want to hear from the community about what they think should be a priority," Cherniak said. "Few County documents have so much influence on how we develop land, meet housing needs, protect natural resources, and plan for strong, resilient communities." The online open house is open through April 5. More information is available at the county's CDC Assessment project page.