Clark County is the primary authority responsible for land use planning, development approval, and infrastructure requirements in unincorporated areas. The county has the code, the authority, and the obligation to ensure that development projects include the roads, sidewalks, and emergency access needed to keep residents safe. Every project on NE 174th Street was approved by the county. Every infrastructure deferral was granted by the county. The county has the authority and the tools to ensure future development includes safe infrastructure.
The NE 174th Street communities fall within the City of Vancouver’s Urban Growth Boundary. As these areas are planned for eventual annexation, the city has a direct interest in the infrastructure being built today. Vancouver should be demanding that county-approved development projects include the transportation infrastructure — sidewalks, bike lanes, adequate road width, and secondary access — needed to support the communities the city will one day serve.
Washington State grants counties broad authority over local land use decisions through the Growth Management Act. When local infrastructure standards fall short of protecting public safety, the state has a role in setting minimum requirements for residential development. The legislature should strengthen infrastructure requirements and make clear to counties, cities, and developers alike that Washington is committed to responsible growth — growth that protects the environment, ensures public safety, and puts people and communities first.
Federal representatives can advocate for infrastructure funding, emergency access standards, and oversight of growth management practices that affect public safety. While land use is a local issue, the pattern of approving hundreds of homes with no safe infrastructure is a public safety issue that warrants federal awareness.