Letter to the editor: Support local farmers, foresters and wildlife habitat owners

The Clark County Council, as part of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan update, is performing an agricultural lands study of the unincorporated areas in the county (that are outside of the current urban growth boundaries).

This study, by the Agricultural Advisory Commission, will address currently designated agricultural lands (and zoning) in light of the development of new housing and infrastructure, and look for recommendations for inclusion of any lands that should qualify for such designation but are not currently designated.  

One of the stated goals is to implement a comprehensive program of agricultural protection and preservation.  

The council does acknowledge that "agriculture is a significant contributor to the local economy and a high quality of life for Clark County residents and that many county decisions can affect agricultural production and viability." 

I encourage you to support these issues:

1. Maintain the AG20 zone category;
2. Any efforts by the county to change a property from its AG20 zone category to another zone category must have the consent of the property owner;
3. The county must not plan for roadways to be placed across AG20 zoned agricultural lands unless the property owner consents to such, and conforms with the state’s Comprehensive Growth Plan;
4. Establish a zone category similar to AG20, which allows lots smaller than 20 acres, to encourage the conservation of lands for the purposes of agriculture and/or forestry (timber and non-timber goals) and/or wildlife habitat;
5. Include forestry (for timber and for non-timber goals) protection and preservation, and wildlife habitat protection and preservation, in the recommendations by the Agricultural Advisory Commission.

There was an open house at the Battle Ground Community Center on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

If you couldn’t attend that meeting, your comments can be submitted to bart.catching@clark.wa.gov. 

I support our local farmers, foresters and wildlife habitat owners.

Steve Thalberg

Ridgefield

•••

Letters To The Editor

Readers are encouraged to express their views by writing to the editor of The Reflector. Letters are limited 500 words. Deadline is noon Thursday. Writers are limited to two letters per calendar quarter. All letters must be signed with name, address, plus phone number for verification. Items submitted are subject to editing and will become the property of this newspaper. Opinions expressed in the Letters to the Editor section of this newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of The Reflector or its staff.

Email: letters@thereflector.com

Mail: The Reflector, Attention: Letters to the Editor,
209 E Main St., Suite 121 Battle Ground, WA 98604