CAMAS MILL DISTRICT PLAN
Discussion Draft
January 6, 2026
The Camas Mill District Plan: Future Vision for the Our Camas 2045 Plan
New Chapter: Visioning Camas’ Future. Paper and the Camas Mill has defined our city and will continue to so in our future. The Camas paper mill first opened in 1883 and now occupies 660 acres including prime Columbia River waterfront. At one point it was the largest specialty paper mill in the world. The production of paper to generate jobs built a mill town that provided good working-class jobs. The mill was the centerpiece of the town and held the preeminent place. The mill and the City of Camas share a proud history including providing for a disappearing middle-class that could send its children to college, proudly supporting war activities, enriching our schools, and providing open space throughout the city. Given worldwide trends in industry including paper, operations of the mill have been reduced to one remaining line. Employment by the mill went to under 150 workers. The State of Washington recognized a majority of the mill property was “non-operational” and made it subject to the Model Toxics Control Act. An Agreed Order requiring investigation and cleanup has been issued. Camas is at a crossroads. Continuing the past path would continue failed planning models placing sprawl and resource description over the admittedly more di ffi cult brownfield model. Costs of municipal service would continue to increase making una ff ordable housing even a harder reach as well as increase costs to renters. The alternative path embodies the requirements and spirit of the Growth Management Act and respects our state’s strong commitment to Climate Change adaptation. The alternative partners with east Vancouver and Washougal growth creating a multi-city corridor enabling low- carbon a ff ordable housing and economic growth favoring public transportation. Its an alternative that has been well studied and concluded this planning model’s land use alternative is the superior way to meet requirements. The future of the Camas Mill is front and center. It can be a future Camas where the city continues to be cut-o ff from its waterfront, with use limited by public access restrictions enforced through a covenant. Alternatively, it can follow a new path. It can be a green beacon welcoming a future and sustainable riverfront city that embraces its Earth Day heritage. Throughout many di ff erent public participation events by the city and others, the people of Camas and beyond share the latter vision. It was captured 3 years ago in a statement by then Acting Mayor Ellen Burton to the Department of Ecology. As reported by the Camas-Washougal Post Record: “The Camas-Washougal community and the city of Camas have benefited from over a century of economic activity and partnership with the GP paper mill under various owners. We want this beneficial partnership to continue today and in the future…Nevertheless, when the mill is no longer a viable enterprise we want to Page of 16 35
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