Land Use

The City of Ridgefield has been working through Envision Ridgefield 2045, a process to update the city’s Comprehensive Growth Plan and remain consistent with the requirements of the Washington Growth Management Act (GMA). As part of this process, we receive allocations for population, housing and jobs from Clark County to account for the next 20 years of growth.

In Washington State, growth planning happens within a formal, coordinated framework. The County tells us how much we need to grow and where that growth can occur, and it’s up to the City to implement a plan that reflects Ridgefield’s character and priorities.

For the 2025-2045 Comprehensive Plan, Ridgefield must plan for the following allocations:

Under our existing plan, adopted in 2016, we applied zoning to create varied housing density and concentrate development in targeted areas of the city. This created mixed use activity centers, near Pioneer and Royle, that feature multifamily housing, parks and services. These targeted mixed-use centers meet population requirements while preserving Ridgefield’s unique small-town feel and protecting our natural spaces.

In ongoing conversations and in the surveys and discussions we have had for Envision Ridgefield 2045, we’ve heard the Ridgefield community wants to continue to targeted, concentrated development that preserves the look and feel of our existing neighborhoods and balances preservation and progress Downtown. With new requirements, goals and visions, Council wants to build on this strategy with a plan for the next 20 years.

We’ve developed a preferred land use scenario that meets requirements and stays true to Ridgefield’s values. This plan features limited expansion of our current urban growth boundaries in order to prioritize the preservation of existing neighborhoods and open spaces, while making room for future housing and high-quality employment. It reflects a future where residents can continue to live, work, shop and access services – all within Ridgefield.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Explore the changes from the existing land use conditions under the Preferred Alternative.

• View the full Preferred Land Use Map (PDF)

The community’s Preferred Land Use Map responsibly plans for future growth while maintaining the neighborhoods, open spaces, and small-town feel that make Ridgefield such a special place to live.

This targeted expansion is dependent on Clark County’s growth management plan. Currently, analysis at the County level does account for Ridgefield’s targeted expansion. We trust in our relationships with our partners at the County and are hopeful that our vision will continue to be allowed, however we need to have a backup plan identified in case Ridgefield is not permitted to expand our urban growth boundaries as a result of the County’s ongoing analysis. That plan is known as the “No Expansion Alternative” and will mean planning for infill development in existing low-density neighborhoods by assuming more Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) or higher density housing like duplexes, townhomes, or multifamily buildings will develop in those areas over the next 20 years.

• View the No Expansion Alternative (PDF)

These maps don’t stand alone in long term land use planning. They are accompanied by a set of goals and policies that further help guide the look and feel of future development in Ridgefield. City Council reviewed Draft Land Use Goals and Policies in a Study Session on May 15.

• View Draft Goals & Policies Presentation (PDF)
• Watch May 15, 2025 Study Session