Hearings to consider removing urban holding for Pleasant Valley

The Clark County Planning Commission and Board of Clark County Commissioners have scheduled work sessions and public hearings in March to consider lifting the urban holding designation from a Pleasant Valley area.

The designation is given to lands as they are added to urban growth areas, and it protects them from development until urban services are available or they are annexed by a city. The Pleasant Valley lands were given the designation in 2007.

The affected area is a square mile bounded by Northeast 50th Avenue on the west, Northeast 72nd Avenue on the east, Northeast 119th Street on the south and Northeast 139th Street on the north. It also includes a 21-acre group of parcels at the northeast corner of 50th Avenue and 139th Street.

To open the area for development, the Board must determine that there is sufficient money in the county’s 2010-2015 Transportation Improvement Plan to complete critical roadway links and intersections. In this case, the intersection of Northeast 119th Street and 50th Avenue is crucial. Development agreements are pending that would make Washington State University Vancouver and other area developers  financial partners in the intersection’s construction.

Clark County Planning Commission will have a work session at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 4, in the sixth-floor Training Room, and then a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 18, in the sixth-floor Hearing Room, Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver.

The Board of Clark County Commissioners will have a work session at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 24, in the sixth-floor Training Room, a public hearing at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 30, at the Public Service Center, in the sixth-floor Hearing Room, 1300 Franklin Street.

For more information, go to http://www.clark.wa.gov/longrangeplan/projects/urban-holding.html.

Apply Now for Leadership Clark County Class of 2010-2011

Leadership Clark County (LCC) is now accepting applications for the class of 2011, according to the program’s two recruitment chairpersons, Jason Beatty and VaNessa Duplessie.

LCC is a 10-month training and development program that prepares citizens to become more effective community members and assist in tackling the community's most pressing issues.

As part of the learning experience, LCC participants attend monthly sessions where they interact with heads of hospitals, state legislators, judges, superintendents and local business leaders, offering unmatched opportunities for participants to engage with our community’s decision-makers. Specific areas of focus include history and leadership of Clark County, government, sustainability, healthcare, diversity, justice, education, social services, and economic development.

LCC seeks to fill the class with a broad spectrum of community members, including diverse racial, ethnic, economic, life and work-experience backgrounds. Class size is limited to about 36 participants. Applicants of all ages over 21 are encouraged to apply. 

Class sessions begin in September and continue until graduation in June. The application deadline for enrollment is April 30, 2010. Limited scholarships are available.

Additional information and applications can be obtained at www.leadershipclarkcounty.com or by calling Executive Director Kathy Scott at 567-1085.

A vanished people: the mystery of Lake River

Clark County Historical Museum continues with its First Thursday Museum After Hours event series with a free lecture given by archaeologist and researcher Alison Stenger, Ph. D.

Stenger  is the director of research for the Institute for Archaeological Studies in Portland, OR. With more than 25 years of professional experience, she has been presenting professional papers since 1984 and co-chaired the last two International Science Conferences.  Alison is currently conducting extensive research on the Pacific Northwest as it was during the last ice age. She still saves time, however, to advise both institutions and students along with teaching field classes on archaeology.

Stenger has just authored a new book, A Vanished People. This illustrated volume chronicles a mysterious population who existed in our area for several centuries before disappearing, and will be available for purchase and signing after her lecture. This lecture will be accompanied by a display of the Museum’s collection of Lake River ceramics.

This lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://www.cchmuseum.org/.

News Briefs

Join the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce for an informal look at Microsoft® Windows® 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, at the GVCC office, 1101 Broadway, Suite 100. Industry experts from Creative Computer Solutions, Inc., will walk attendees through some of the program features. All Southwest Washington chamber and business association members are invited. There is no cost for this event. Call 694-2588 or visit www.vancouverusa.com for more information. <> Nine young finalists will perform “concert style” before a panel of judges made up of professional musicians in front of a live audience for the Young Artist’s Competition to be held 1 p.m. Sunday, March 7, at Royal Durst Theatre at the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics. Master of ceremonies for the concert will be Rich Brase. Students will compete for the following scholarship amounts: first place, $1,000; second place, $750; third place, $250. The three category winners will then perform in concert with the VSO at Skyview High School Concert Hall in Vancouver on April 17 and 18. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.vancouversymphony.org or call the symphony office at 735-7278. The Vancouver School of Arts and Academics is located at 3101 Main Street in Vancouver.

Calendar

Vancouver City Council meets from 4 to 6 p.m. for workshops followed by a full council meeting and public hearings at 7 p.m. Monday, March 1, in Council chambers. <> Washougal City Council meets at 7 p.m. Monday, March 1, in City Council chambers. <> Port of Camas-Washougal meets for an executive session at 3 p.m. Monday, March 1, followed by an open meeting at 4 p.m. <> Battle Ground City Council City Council Meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, March 1, in Council chambers, 109 SW 1st Street, 2nd floor. <> The Clark Public Utilities board of commissioners will hold a special meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 2, 1200 Fort Vancouver Way.

 Monday on the air

 

Columbia River Channel Deepening Update with U.S. Senator Patty Murray (2-19)--3:30 p.m. CVTV

City Council Workshop (live)--4:30 p.m. CVTV

Vancouver City Council (live)--7 p.m. CVTV

Election 2010: The Clark County Republican Party 2010 Lincoln Day Celebration (2-6)--11 p.m. CVTV    

       Community Calendar Links

• Southwest Washington Center for the Arts

• Greater Vancouver Chamber

• City of Vancouver Calendar

 

Monday, March 1, 2010 Headlines

 

Links to news of local & national significance

Pollard sign sat atop Afghan peak--Columbian, Tom Vogt

County's fourth WinCo opens today--Columbian, Cami Joner

Fed's No. 2 to retire, leaving 3 vacancies on board--New York Times, Sewell Chan

Chile deploys thousands of troops to keep the peace in aftermath of earthquake--Washington Post, Jonathan Franklin

Chile quake gives local couple a scare--Columbian, Dave Kern