Hearing on county comp plan is Feb. 18

A draft comprehensive plan for Washington County is ready after months of work by county planning officials and input from citizens on what the future of the community should look like.
 County commissioners will hold a public hearing and take comments on the 2020 comprehensive plan on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. at the courthouse in Weiser. Commissioners must then adopt the plan.
 The current comprehensive plan is 10 years old and needed to be updated. Every county and city in the state is required by law to have a comprehensive plan.  
 The 2020 plan update was guided by planning and zoning commissioners and a steering committee of about 20 county residents.
 The plan was developed in accordance with the guidelines set forth in Idaho code under the “Idaho Local Land Use Planning Act” as amended.
 Local communities are guided in their planning efforts by the ILLUPA, which defines the plan’s minimum geographic scope, considerations to take into account and means of presenting information.

Every plan must address 17 topics that range from property rights to economic development to land use and natural resources.
 The plan also contains a future land use map that outlines a general pattern of development and land use. It is not a zoning map, with boundaries that reflect a generalized pattern of development.
 The plan is a legal document as adopted by commissioners to guide public and private development in the short-term and long-term.
 It is also the basis for adoption of administrative ordinances, review of land use proposals and development of other plans affecting the cultural and natural environment.
 The plan is not a zoning ordinance or a blueprint for specific development.  
 Rather, a comprehensive plan presents a number of broad development guidelines to be considered in the decision-making process by elected officials in the areas of the provision of public facilities, the adoption of implementing ordinances, considering changes in land use, and decisions regarding future development.
 The plan considers previous and existing trends, goals and objectives and desirable future situations.
 The plan outlines what the community wants to look like in the next 20 years and how it can get there.
 It reflects the general goals of the community and sets forth policies to attain these goals.
 It is the intent of the Washington County Commissioners to use the plan as a framework which will promote sound land development, a safe and healthy living environment and a successful economic climate, while maintaining and protecting personal property rights.
 The county’s existing comprehensive plan was adopted in November of 2010 by the county commission.
 The introduction to the document states that the plan will be used as a “working” document referred to in each land use and growth decision made.