CAMAS MILL DISTRICT PLAN
Discussion Draft
January 6, 2026
While the mayor’s statement is factual, as is the stated desire to obtain an unretricted cleanup, the problem remains our Camas 2045 and the Downtown Subarea Plan. The mill property continues as Heavy Industrial. The Mill District Plan’s purpose is rooted in the plain language of the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA). Future prohibition of non-industrial uses of the remediated property
would not allow the flexibility the City of Camas believes exists. Moreover, were DOE to only rely on the map shown to the on the previous page, unrestricted cleanup may not be legally possible. Sparing the reader of legal citations, Appendix 2 provides discussion supporting this concern. The City’s response. Past expressions by the City of Camas, including the Mayor’s letter, have maintained this "Heavy Industry" planning/zoning for the Camas Mill will not interfere with the state’s required cleanup supporting all future uses. In response to public pressure, staff as said the future zoning table would include residential as a conditional use for Heavy Industry. While asked if this is sufficient, DOE will not provide agreement. The city’s interpretation, and method of addition, raises questionable consistency with state law. It is not helped by the graphic showing Industrial to the right. There is no
mention of any land use with access restrictions exceeding Heavy Industrial thresholds . 9 The September 12, 2024 draft Mill District plan discusses the need for a better approach incorporated through an overlay plan . 10 While an effort to secure the opinion of a practicing land use attorney with practical GMA and MTCA experience was requested, no public response was provided. The city relies on a part-time City Attorney lacking noted practice areas of Land Use, Environmental, Real Property/Land Use . 11
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/274d727e9ab44a26920810d5ad007369 9 https://online.flippingbook.com/view/952378320/ 10 Washington State Bar 11 Page 7 of 35
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