Your involvement in policy and planning efforts is valuable.  You can choose to stay informed and be aware of planning efforts as they evolve or participate in community events like advisory groups, work shops, open houses or neighborhood coffees.  Whatever involvement best meets your time and interest level it is important that you are aware of policy and planning efforts that may affect you. And that you have opportunities to voice your opinions.

Public involvement and the exchange of information is a fundamental and necessary part of the planning process.  To facilitate this exchange of information, the Washington County Long Range Planning Division includes a public engagement strategy in every planning effort.  For land use changes you always have opportunity to provide testimony before the Board of County Commissioners (specified in Chapter 5 of the County Charter.).  In most planning efforts, multiple opportunities beyond testimony also are provided to build awareness and solicit feedback.

A good way to get involved is by attending your Citizen Participation Organization's monthly meeting (http://extension.oregonstate.edu/washington/cpo).  Since the early 1970s Washington County uses this acknowledged citizen involvement program to provide opportunities for citizens and other interested parties to participate in all phases of the planning process. 

The public involvement component for North Bethany Subarea Planning will include, but is not limited to the following:

• Open Houses
• Work Groups
• Informational Coffees
• Public Hearings