Heritage Farm update

 

The Community Gardens at the 78th Street Heritage Farm.l

 

In 2010, Clark County adopted a master plan to guide future use of the 78th Street Heritage Farm, including a map showing different concepts and uses that could be developed on the 79-acre property. This master plan was updated in 2019 and is pending approval. 

For more information, including some great views of the Heritage Farm, watch this CVTV video from February 2019.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FAzEIeOwpA]

 

Heritage_Farm_logo.jpg

 

Project update - April 26, 2019

County residents shared their ideas for updating the Heritage Farm’s master plan by taking an online survey. The survey was accessible to residents for eight weeks and was closed on March 15, 2019. A total of 795 completed surveys were recorded. The results will help gauge community priorities for the farm’s future use.

Thank you to those who attended community open house meetings on the plan on Jan. 31st and April 10th. Approximately 65 people attended each meeting to review materials and provide comment.

Upon review of the survey results and open meeting information, the Heritage Farm Advisory Board issued the following recommendations: 

Below are some of the displays used during the Jan. 31 open house:

 

Project background

The Heritage Farm has a rich history that dates back nearly 150 years to the 1870s, when Clark County started operating a poor farm along the south side of Northeast 78th Street in Hazel Dell. The site was later used as a research and experimental farm by Washington State University Extension before the county resumed managing the property in 2008.

The 2010 master plan commits the county to preserve the property’s agricultural heritage and history as a poor farm and to encourage use of its agricultural, historical and educational amenities.

 

Volunteers harvest carrots at 78th Street Heritage Farm.

 

Since the master plan was adopted, an interpretive trail plan was created in 2011 so visitors could learn about the experiences of pioneer settlers and poor farm residents in the late 19th and early 20th centuries via a series of stations highlighting the property’s cultural, social and political history.  

In 2018, a preservation and maintenance plan was developed to assess the condition of the farm’s historic buildings/resources and provide recommendations for future preservation and maintenance

In 2019, Clark County will update the Heritage Farm’s master plan to:

  • Review changes to the property since the master plan was adopted and incorporate those changes into the master plan.
  • Review, validate and potentially revise components in the master plan that have not yet been implemented.
  • Review priorities for the farm’s future use without modifying the master plan’s vision and guiding principles (PDF).

We need your help

Clark County wants to hear from the community, specifically about how they would like to see the farm used and developed in coming years.

This effort will update the master plan, not rewrite the master plan or change its vision, goals and guiding principles.

 Community members can participate in a number of ways, including:

  • Provide your email address so we can keep you informed about the master plan update, all the way to final adoption.
  • Attend upcoming meetings of the Heritage Farm Advisory Team, where background on the site and master plan will be presented and recommendations for updating the master plan will be developed.
  • Participate in two planned community open houses that will share information about the project and gather public comments on draft recommendations for updating the master plan.
  • Offer additional input through a community survey that can be done online or at the first community open house.
  • Testify on the recommended changes to the master plan during public hearings before the Clark County Planning Commission and Clark County Council.

Please join our email distribution list the master plan update by sending your email address to erik.harrison@clark.wa.gov.

Project schedule

The following is a proposed timeline for updating the 78th Street Heritage Farm's master plan. Please note that dates are subject to change. Notice of any changes will be posted here and sent to those who sign up for email updates.

Meeting Time and date Location Purpose
Heritage Farm Advisory Team 4-6 pm Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019 Bud Van Cleve Community Room, Luke Jensen Sports Park, 4000 NE 78th St., Vancouver Provide background and gather information for plan update
Community open house 6-8 pm Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019

Sixth-floor hearing room, Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver

 Provide background and gather information for plan update
Heritage Farm Advisory Team 3:30-5:30 pm Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 Bud Van Cleve Community Room, Luke Jensen Sports Park, 4000 NE 78th St., Vancouver

Develop draft recommendations for plan update
 

Community open house

 6-8 pm Wednesday, April 10, 2019 Sixth-floor hearing room, Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver Review draft recommendations for plan
Clark County Council 10:30 am Wednesday, April 24, 2019 Sixth-floor training room, Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver Work session on the plan update
Clark County Planning Commission 5:30 pm Thursday, May 2, 2019 Sixth-floor training room, Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver Work session on the plan update
Clark County Planning Commission 6:30 pm Thursday, May 16, 2019 Sixth-floor hearing room, Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver Public hearing on the plan update
Clark County Council 10 am Tuesday, June 11, 2019 Sixth-floor hearing room, Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver Public hearing and possible adoption of plan update

 

Documents

Staff contact

Erik Harrison
Parks and Lands Program Manager
Clark County Public Works
564.397.2307
erik.harrison@clark.wa.gov

 

Historic building at 78th Street Heritage Farm.