We have prepared some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and answers to help Wasco County residents and property owners understand the Land Use and Development Ordinance Update project and process. Do you have a question? You can submit one using our Ask a Planner form.

Q: What is the Land Use and Development Ordinance? A: The Land Use and Development Ordinance (LUDO) are the criteria and regulations which, in conjunction with state and federal law, govern land use planning and development in Wasco County.  When property owners require a permit for new development or uses on their property the LUDO are the rules which a permit application will be evaluated by. It also consists of procedures for application review.

Q: Why does the LUDO need updating? A: There are three main reasons driving the LUDO Update: changes to state and federal laws (required), process or other criteria improvements based on analysis, and policies and implementation strategies that were adopted as a result of Wasco County 2040, the Comprehensive Plan update.  Many of these updates have been needed for a decade or more, and the ultimate goal is to produce a better plan that is efficient and meets community needs.

Q: What is the process to update? A: The Wasco County Planning Department will take three years to update the plan.  The first year (2021) will focus on many of the required updates and process improvements.  The second and third years (2022 & 2023) will tackle updates that were generated from the Comprehensive Plan update.  All years are structured to allow the first several months of the year to staff research and technical advisory work to prepare recommended text changes and create easy to read and understand documents for the public process.  The public process will then include work sessions where the public will be asked to provide specific feedback on any proposed changes that are optional or have different possible results.  These will be done through a variety of methods including public meetings, surveys, and public comment.  Once the public has helped to shape the draft documents, they will then be taken through the legislative (rule making) process which begins with the Planning Commission.  Once the Planning Commission has a recommendation, the work goes to the Board of County Commissioners who has the ability to adopt proposed changes before the last step, which is to send to the State Department of Land Conservation and Development for approval.

Q: Are there rules and/or a plan I can read and react to? A: Proposed LUDO revisions and other supporting documents will begin to be available starting in April.  They will be shared  via the project website, newsletter, and the Wasco County website.  Residents can also request a copy be emailed, free of charge.  To have items printed and mailed, there is a Wasco County fee of $.25 per page plus postage. Follow the subject category icons to find the landing pages for updates and read drafts.

Q: How can I participate? A: Over the next several years, there will be multiple opportunities to participate and give feedback, including at work sessions, events and public hearings. Staff encourages you to submit comment at any time during the process. We have an Ask a Planner function to ask questions, surveys and polls for many of the category updates, and we welcome mailed letters, too!

Q: What is the outcome? A: We hope to develop a readable, easy to understand and up to date LUDO that will be consistent with community vision, state and federal law, and include efficiencies for the permitting process moving forward. We hope that future impacts will be positive, and ensure a healthy and successful future for our amazing County!