CAMAS MILL DISTRICT PLAN
Discussion Draft
January 6, 2026
This two-year outreach e ff ort resulted in a revised Charter including Goals and Vision for the cleanup project. The CAG’s included these goals: • Inclusive, connective, informative public engagement that translates the process for everyone in accessible and meaningful ways. • Informed, community-centric feedback to GP through Ecology. • Environmental cleanup plans that reflect the community’s needs, wants, and requirements for the future of the mill site and the community at large. • Set the stage for future redevelopment that puts purpose and people first, lives in harmony with the natural environment, and provides innovative benefits to the entire region. What Does The Camas Community Desire ? The CAG’s work has already been discussed. Beyond the CAG, public review of Camas’ existential question provides uncontested support for a future beyond the mill’s existing and continued Heavy Industrial zoning. Former Mayor Nan Henriksen put it this way in 2021 speaking to the Department of Ecology: “Even though the mill is currently zoned Heavy Industrial, I would be surprised if the city’s future vision for that property is for more heavy industrial (uses),” Henriksen told the city council. “If we have a vision for aesthetically pleasing and vibrant mixed-use with waterfront access (in downtown Camas), we must ensure now that a required cleanup of the mill site is adequate and safe for mixed-use and not just good enough for more heavy industrial usage.” Henriksen and others have urged Camas city officials to get more involved with the state’s environmental cleanup orders at the downtown Camas paper mill “before it’s too late.” (Emphasis added) 7 The city’s sponsored community surveys and outreach did not mention, and verbally told the community, to NOT consider the mill property. Even with the city’s silence, the community spoke loud and clear. Appendix A shows the comments supporting a repurposed mill property provided by 11% of respondents. A second survey shows the strongest support for issues where the Mill District Plan would provide a better solution for the vision expressed in the survey. The Problem : The Draft Camas Mill District Plan identified in Septembrt 2024 the need for the City of Camas to legally inform DOE of the city’s future desire for an unrestricted cleanup. In 2024 Camas Mayor Hogan wrote DOE stating: “Consideration of Washington’s cleanup laws suggest a Heavy Industry designation would severely limit Camas' ability to develop this core property in the future . “ 8 https://www.camaspostrecord.com/news/2021/apr/01/you-get-one-shot-to-do-it-right-residents-o ffi cials-weigh-in- 7 on-future-cleanup-at-camas-paper-mill/ https://online.flippingbook.com/view/196453510/ 8 Page 6 of 35
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