Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County has scheduled a public forum to hear residents’ comments regarding permitting private event venues in rural areas.

The forum will be 6-7:30 pm Wednesday, July 31, in the sixth-floor hearing room of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St. It is open to the public.

The proposed private event venues would typically be permitted independently of  those currently allowed as an accessory use to a winery, and would be available for weddings, celebrations and other private events.

The forum will be facilitated by Community Development Director Mitch Nickolds and staffed with employees from Building Safety, Fire Marshal and Land Use Review divisions in Community Development as well as Public Works Transportation staff.

County staff is looking for input from a wide variety of interested parties including residents, property owners, business operators and agency representatives.

Written comments can be sent to ruralvenues@clark.wa.gov or mailed to Clark County Community Development Department, PO Box 9810, Vancouver, WA 98660-9810. Written comments also can be delivered to the Community Development Department on the third floor of the Public Service Center at 1300 Franklin St.

All written comments received will be shared at the forum and available to the public. Comments will be accepted through 5 pm Friday, Aug. 9.

To learn more about current requirements for event-related activity on private property in Clark County, go to www.clark.wa.gov/community-development/rural-event-venues-forum.