Title
PORT OF LONGVIEW APPLICATION FOR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MAP CHANGE FOR THE BARLOW POINT AREA
COUNCIL STRATEGIC INITIATIVE ADDRESSED:
Council Initiative: Strengthen economic conditions & create new opportunities, preserve and enhance neighborhoods
CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW: N/A
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The Port of Longview applied for a Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map amendment to change approximately 136 acres in the Barlow Point area from Mixed Use-Residential/Commercial (MU-R/C) to Heavy Industrial. Two properties not owned by the Port are included in the application. Prior to the adoption of the 2006 Comprehensive Plan this area had a Comprehensive Plan classification of Heavy Industrial and was zoned for heavy industrial uses. The property remains zoned for heavy industrial land uses and can be developed as such.
At their September 2, 2015 regular meeting, the Longview Planning Commission held a public hearing on the application. The Planning Commission received substantial testimony (at least 15 persons spoke and several written comments were submitted). Of those who questioned the application, the theme for much of the testimony was about the public desire to see land uses other than industrial along the Columbia River. At an October 14 special meeting, the Planning Commission voted to recommend denial of the application. The Planning Commission believes the issue will be best resolved in the overall update of the Comprehensive Plan. (The approved scope of work for the Comprehensive Plan update includes the Barlow Point area as an emphasis area in the update process.)
The City Council is charged with making the final decision on the Port’s application. Since this is a legislative decision, more than one open record hearing can be held. At a November 19, 2015 special meeting the City Council decided to hold their own public hearing since the application has drawn more than the usual attention...
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