The future of Battle Ground is up to city residents.
The city is embarking on a community visioning process to set plans for the future, and is asking residents what they want out of Battle Ground. The project is titled Roadmap, and will be led by a committee of community volunteers called the Navigators.
On Monday, the city sent out a survey asking residents about their ideal future Battle Ground.
The city last did future-visioning work in the early 2000s, when Battle Ground’s population was about half its current size. The city has more than 20,000 residents, and it is expected to grow to more than 39,000 by 2035.
Despite its growth, the city is still looking for an identity.
Does it want to be a bedroom community, where residents can live and recreate while having to commute for work? Or does it want to try and lure in more career-oriented jobs so residents can live and work in the city?
According to 2015 Census data, 7.6 percent of Battle Ground residents work in the city, placing it behind Vancouver (34.9 percent), Woodland (18.7 percent), Camas (13.2 percent) and Washougal (9.7 percent).
The survey presents four options for the future. For each option, or vision, it asks residents if they love it, don’t really like it but would support it or don’t think it’s the right direction.
The survey also asks which of the four options residents like the best.
The four options are:
• Town and country will offer a range of in-town services and amenities serving north county, featuring a traditional downtown district with shops and cafes all while maintaining a commitment to Battle Ground’s rural, small-town heritage and history.
• Family-friendly enclave aims to attract young families by offering an assortment of affordable to executive housing, top-notch schools, superior parks and recreational amenities, gathering places and multi-use trails providing activities for all ages.
• Gateway to outdoor adventure sees the city as a launch pad for outdoor activities through interconnected recreation amenities highlighting the area’s natural resources and wetland features, ideally bringing a growing recreation sector with adventure and agritourism, new businesses based on recreation products and outdoor educational programs.
• Future forward envisions the city as a job-generating innovation center with a robust construction industry and trades joined by an infusion of tech startups, cutting edge schools, green businesses and products, and an artisanal factor added by new wines, brews, specialty products and local arts and entertainment crafted in Battle Ground
The survey can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/r/BattleGroundRoadmap, and a video about the project and Battle Ground’s history can be seen on the city’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/CityofBGWA.
The Navigators will go over survey results at their Sept. 18 meeting, and city officials are expected to have a draft vision by October and an action plan by November, according to Bonnie Gilberti, city spokeswoman.
