(VANCOUVER, WA.) — Vancouver City Council unanimously approved Comprehensive Plan.
The Vancouver City Council meeting on June 1, 2026, was dominated by the adoption of the 'Our Vancouver 2026-2045 Comprehensive Plan,' a significant redesign of the city's land use and development code.
This plan will guide the growth of Vancouver for the next 20 years.
The ‘Our Vancouver 2026-2045 Comprehensive Plan’ will repeal and replace the existing zoning map and Title 20 Land Use and Development Code. This plan aims to guide growth through 2045, accommodating 81,000 more people, 38,000 new housing units, and 43,200 jobs.
Photo Credit: CVTV
Many Vancouver residents gave testimony in support of the Comprehensive plan.
Jason Cromer, a Vancouver homeowner, strongly supported the comprehensive plan, thanking Rebecca Kennedy and her team for their extensive, objective work over four years. He believes the plan comprehensively addresses city planning problems, including homelessness, traffic, and long-term debt/taxes.
“It's a project that looks at in detail and objectively what problems we have today with city planning and how to address those, and not just looking at a micro level, but also a macro level, taking in real world examples from our state, country and abroad as well to figure out what we need to do to address the issues we see today. When I look at the plan, it solves so many issues,” Cromer said.
Photo Credit: CVTV
“While the plan was ultimately approved unanimously, some public comments revealed concerns about a lack of community awareness, potential negative impacts on existing neighborhoods, and the adequacy of protections for affordable housing, particularly manufactured home parks,” OpGov.news reports.
Sharon Peavey, a director with a statewide association for Manufactured Home Communities, expressed concerns about the comprehensive plan's impact on manufactured homeowners, who often include older people needing stability. She highlighted the vulnerability of these communities to rising rents and the risk of losing homes if parks are repurposed, as their homes cannot be easily moved and they receive only a fraction of their home's market value if a park closes.
“Most of our communities house older people who need stability, not the fear of being replaced. Our city has the power to grant overlay zoning and preserve options for home ownership. These special owners have faced so many obstacles for peaceful living, which I do not have time to address,” Peavey said.
Critics argued that despite extensive outreach claimed by staff, many residents, including neighborhood leaders, remained unaware of the plan's profound implications.
The council acknowledged anxieties, largely emphasizing the plan's necessity for managing growth, increasing housing options, promoting equity, and aligning with state laws, often framing concerns as individual property owner decisions or incremental changes rather than widespread, immediate threats.
According to the beheardvancouver website, the updated plan establishes a vision through the year 2045, the City will make updates to the plan and code on a more frequent basis, including through the Annual Review Process. This allows us to be flexible and adapt to future changes and outcomes.
The Plan and Code will go into effect on July 31, 2026. Until then, the 2011 Comprehensive Plan and existing zoning code continue to be in place.
If you would like to add to this report, please email me at rory.h@lead4earth.org or comment below.
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