Onalaska Subarea Plan

Lewis County is partnering with the community of Onalaska to update the subarea plan. The Onalaska Subarea Plan was adopted in 2017. It is appropriate to update a subarea plan every five to ten years to address changes in the economy, new development, traffic constraints or other community-identified issues about the future.

A subarea plan is a road map that guides how a specific geography, like Onalaska, will grow and develop over the next 20 years. The plan states a vision, goals, and policies for the area. The plan gets adopted as part of the Lewis County Comprehensive Plan and is used to determine updates to zoning maps and regulations, as well as capital facilities plans for infrastructure like sewer or water. The outcome of a subarea plan is not predetermined; however, the plan must meet the requirements of Washington’s Growth Management Act.

The plan evaluates topics and identifies improvements needed to accommodate new residents, businesses and visitors. Topics include:

• land use – general location and future density of new development
• transportation – streets, transit, sidewalks, bike lanes
• public facilities – sewer, water, solid waste, recycling, public safety
• public services – schools, parks and other community amenities
• natural resources – water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, natural hazards
• other topics identified during the process

The plan is created by the community in partnership with Lewis County Planning staff. A Community Advisory Committee, made up of citizens and interested parties, is formed to guide the work. The plan starts with an existing conditions report. Then a series of events are held to collaborate on the vision, goals, and polices for Onalaska. Staff from Lewis County facilitates the process and produces a final subarea plan document that is reviewed by the Planning Commission before being forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for adoption. The timeline for developing the subarea plan, as well as updates to zoning and development regulations, is fall 2023 through spring 2025.

Upcoming Meetings

Please check the Community Development Calendar for more information.

[this list is updated throughout the process, with the most recent document at the top]

• 2024-03-19 CAC Meeting 7 Notes
• 2024-02-20 CAC Meeting 6 Notes
• 2024-01-16 Meeting 5 - CANCELLED
• 2023-12-19 CAC Meeting 4 Notes
• 2023-11-21 CAC Meeting 3 Notes
• 2023-10-17 CAC Meeting 2 Notes
• 2023-10-07 Onalaska Apple Festival Poster Results
• 2023-09-19 CAC Meeting 1 Notes
• 2023-08-23 Community Meeting Notes
• Onalaska UGA Existing Development Capacity (August 2023)
• Results of Community Survey (July 2023)
• Community Advisory Committee Sign Up Sheet
• Subarea Plan Frequently Asked Questions (July 2023)
• Project Summary
• Public Engagement Plan

Everyone in the Onalaska community is encouraged to engage in the process. There will be many opportunities and ways to make your voice heard. To receive notices about upcoming opportunities, please subscribe to the Onalaska Subarea Plan email list. You can also contact Mindy Brooks at mindy.brooks@lewiscountywa.gov or 360-740-2610.