CAMAS MILL DISTRICT PLAN
Discussion Draft
January 6, 2026
Other than one block of current mill parking, there is no mention of the mill property’s inclusion in a vision/plan for economic development. Imagine an institutional developer with a long time horizon observing the lack of any indication that Camas government would strongly support significant economic development should they seek to work with GP. They understand the long-term view with cleanup issues. Our Camas 2045’s focus is elsewhere including areas disconnected from downtown and requiring roads with significant natural resource impacts. Why is downtown economic development prized? Appendix 2 provides a quick snapshot of three parcels. Two in downtown Camas and one in Washougal tell a tale of lost opportunity in Camas and how much more just the lab-site could contribute. Tribal Governments: Our Camas 2045 lacks the basic land acknowledgment typically provided by government. The Mill District Plan recognizes the need goes beyond this basic land acknowledgement. A core of Our Camas 2045 should not just note, but respect and honor Native American culture. The Mill District Plan recognizes input from tribal government already received through partnering efforts. Tribal government issues, such as treaty fishing rights brought forward by the Yakama Nation, must be accommodated in the mill’s cleanup and the city’s aspirations for the future. A basic honor the plan can provide is to restore natural resource quality as part of a Columbian Basin wide effort. The Mill District Plan does so. Other Community Input: The final Mill District Plan incorporates comments made from 9 months of interactions with our community. This is beyond the input in the administrative record (Appendix A) city staff could have referenced to advance the simply reality: the fully remediated mill is central to our future and supported by the community.. The Mill District Plan embraces it. The voices of Appendix A and beyond need to be heard. The Mill District Plan listened. The Society thanks the many people who took the time to consider the draft and offer meaningful suggestions. It may have been on a social media comment, a comment made in conversation, or the community’s ideas expressed at countless council meetings, public town halls, and other community gatherings. The Camas Earthy Day Society has been listening. This is a community driven plan. Conclusion . Respectfully, and in concert with the many voices in the community the Society heard in the last nine months, it is time for this council to recognize the decisions the city makes over the next several years will forever impact our future. The current path relies on something beyond a plain reading of the MTCA. This lack of clarity could limit much of the city's most attractive and valuable real estate to industrial uses forever. The very goals Our Camas 2045 are in fact stymied by antiquated development models. The Mill District Plan represents these true goals.
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