During a Thursday, May 15 workshop, Ridgefield City Council members signaled growing interest in weaving historic preservation into the city’s long-range growth strategy as they work to update the Comprehensive Growth Management Plan, branded as Envision Ridgefield 2045.
The Comprehensive Growth Management Plan is a framework required under Washington State’s Growth Management Act. It guides how cities like Ridgefield plan for population and employment growth over 20 years. Ridgefield’s current plan, which spans 2015 to 2035, must be updated by 2026. Envision Ridgefield 2045 will extend the timeline through 2045 and outline the policies that shape future development, land use and infrastructure.
While much of the meeting focused on refining broad planning goals, council members focused on the idea that historical preservation deserves more than a passing mention. Several voiced concern that it risks being overlooked in future decision-making if it remains lumped into general language about community character.
“I think it could use its own policy,” Councilor Rian Davis said. “I think it would be an afterthought if it [were] just added into that mix.”
The discussion centered around how new developments could reflect and respect the city’s past without stopping rapid development. Council members described Ridgefield’s small-town charm as a defining trait and expressed concern that rapid growth might erase that character if thoughtful preservation policies weren’t in place.
“To me, that’s a lot of placemaking, is understanding our community’s history,” Davis said. “It’s more important now than ever, just because of all the growth that we have had of people [who] don’t know the story of the community.”
Councilors supported the idea of formally recognizing historical preservation as its own goal within the comprehensive plan, on equal footing with other long-term development priorities.
Council members also referenced work already being done by the Ridgefield Main Street program, which has developed historical signage downtown to share stories of the city’s past. Councilor Katie Favella expressed interest in expanding similar historical signage across Ridgefield as growth continues.
“I was thinking… how cool that would be, as we have connectivity with the trail systems, connecting the other side of the freeway, or Costco to downtown, is having storyboards, not just downtown, but placed in separate areas in Ridgefield talking about what was here [and] what came before,” Favella said. “So it’s really throughout Ridgefield and not just [downtown] where we can preserve that history.”
After the meeting, Mayor Matt Cole expanded on how Envision Ridgefield 2045’s goals will shape the city’s future.
Cole gave examples of how past planning goals already affect development, such as Ridgefield’s 25% open space requirement for new residential areas, or how design standards for building materials reflect local preferences.
“We didn’t want this to be just another anonymous, run-of-the-mill community,” Cole said. “We want it to be something that feels very, very much intentional.”
On the topic of history and growth, Cole acknowledged the tension between preserving legacy and enabling development.
“We want to preserve the stories and the things that came before us,” he said. “That doesn’t always mean keeping an old rotting barn, but if we can preserve key parts and tell the story, that’s really important.”
Looking ahead, Cole said the city’s next wave of growth is expected to take place east of Interstate 5, where significant undeveloped land already lies within city limits.
“There’s quite a bit of land there that we can put to good use,” he said. “It’ll be characterized by commercial development and mixed-use housing.”
For Cole, the goal is to preserve Ridgefield’s identity while allowing it to evolve, blending the old and new through planning.
“We’re doing placemaking generationally,” he said. “People will have an attachment here for generations to come, not just right now.”
