[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6246634,"mediaKeyId","3217055-6ec58a7f872a928068c79507bbe937fd","parentId",3217055,"title","Council sets June 2 hearing for proposed code changes on ADUs, design standards and stormwater rules","audioSeconds",762,"startMs",9599000,"endMs",10361000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3217055-6ec58a7f872a928068c79507bbe937fd&start=9599&end=10361","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3217055-6ec58a7f872a928068c79507bbe937fd/thumbnail_9599000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6246634/Battle-Ground-City/Clark-County/Washington/Council-sets-June-2-hearing-for-proposed-code-changes-on-ADUs-design-standards-and-stormwater-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6246634-1ef6de9e5848d9f966de2a59a884a49f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196269&Signature=FiB28yJMgVwqDeIwmIzBg3JfFrHTlps6JZkpSZDpSc67VJ7ynDQJ6k0fKIm-D~LqvVE92RejONEgrdmTEFNBdrhcpM1ol2eFWhpzz202kUvbVm77FmD7Djf2vrUnxAnckjuWtRL985WwlVkTZpyTwZXDt3bGZH7xB3O2egrQ3s6A0iGwzxwiFJnanzJQY90suYGaFVaqWWyLoQ9ALWrVSVQTevysaEmyKIFqF0yeQEbUYhs4rIuEb6tBm0MHCoLZdV~VmCXVL4tqDiNaXBzW3nvm-MbenTf5UPC88occmznHpBxo3FeYdz-gwAinrVIYA~nXpGQoHkUZrFPgaHoAIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Battle Ground City, WA","date","2025-05-06T16:54:30Z","article","Planning staff presented a bundle of proposed municipal‑code amendments May 5 and the council set a public hearing for June 2 to accept testimony.

Planning staff said proposals include changes across multiple titles: nuisance language for overgrown vegetation in Title 8; removing detailed construction specifications from Title 12 and referencing current standard details instead; clarifications to building code conflict rules and plan expiration language in Title 15; updates to single‑family and duplex exterior design standards and a package of accessory dwelling unit (ADU) changes in Title 17; and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)‑related updates to clearing, grading and stormwater code in Title 18.

The nut graf: several amendments respond to state law and permit requirements (for example NPDES and recent ADU/ housing bills) and to planning commission recommendations; council scheduled a public hearing June 2 so the public can comment on the consolidated package.

Key planning details presented: the ADU draft would allow up to two ADUs on a single lot (one detached plus one internal or attached unit, but not two detached accessory structures), cap ADU size at 1,200 square feet (planning commission preference) and allow reduced rear setbacks (up to 5 feet) where an ADU is proposed. Planning staff said the city will check sewer and utility capacity through routine downstream modeling; if infrastructure lacks capacity, developers may be required to complete downstream improvements before building.

On single‑family and duplex design standards, staff proposed replacing vague language requiring homes to be “substantially different” with objective examples (façade articulation, roofline variation, material changes) and explicit treatment of mirrored‑unit duplexes so staff can apply the rule consistently.

Action: council unanimously voted to set a June 2 public hearing on the proposed municipal‑code amendments so public testimony can be received. Planning staff noted that the package has already been recommended by the Planning Commission (April 23).

Ending: staff requested public comment at the hearing and said they will bring final ordinance language back after public testimony and any recommended edits.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05-05-2025 Battle Ground City Council Study Session & Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Planning staff presented a package of municipal‑code amendments covering nuisances, frontage standards, building code clarifications, single‑family/duplex design standards, accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules (including allowing up to two ADUs), and updates required by the city’s NPDES stormwater permit; council set a June 2 public hearing.","taxTitle","Battle Ground City, Clark County, Washington","taxId",53947,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6246640,"Council approves staff to work with artist on skate park mural after PACE recommendation",474,2761000,3235000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3217055-6ec58a7f872a928068c79507bbe937fd&start=2761&end=3235","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3217055-6ec58a7f872a928068c79507bbe937fd/thumbnail_2761000.jpg","/articles/6246640/Battle-Ground-City/Clark-County/Washington/Council-approves-staff-to-work-with-artist-on-skate-park-mural-after-PACE-recommendation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6246640-ed917207d8b418f0fccfe44abd2137d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196269&Signature=l5LFggXqbSexxDJmlyWqBdBzFgSbuu7zixyycUmWsBR~eljXtbOJmIAhhth8vGl4~2Kq7stD8ghbJoPKsR5rlG97oNaEvHtJW2-EXW3-BuEodoFMQHh8y0OcYp9V8AqOkudX98P54Huojr4Ef-d2n6PQyGfq7UTpep69t2i4f78P8-gx4hKKwdwWKTtHDRJdKZDv6UFvWck2jmoMCNuGljsQOO2H0R4XgOrS25TeR45c-igdy03AIT99Dl48WKaDSAyh0K4TWwtuvEV6v3qkp1gHNR7Q0XuiVGPwqpNJNEmE01Cdv3t8oopflj4WYZeKoSZTdjWSzAgXa7l2bc8rVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The council directed staff May 5 to work with artist William (Will) Sykes on a mural for the Battle Ground Skate Park after the Parks, Arts, Culture and Events (PACE) advisory board recommended the project.

Rob (deputy city manager) introduced Sykes and said staff views the skate park mural as a demonstration project for a future public‑art program. Sykes told council he proposed a roughly 37‑by‑10‑foot mural on the back of a concrete dome facing the baseball fields, showed sketches and described a seven‑to‑nine‑day tentative painting schedule including surface preparation, sketching with a projector, base layers and detailing.

The nut graf: PACE unanimously recommended the mural April 9; council approved staff to coordinate logistics, including temporary fencing during painting and minor equipment support, and asked staff to monitor any anti‑graffiti or surface coatings for skating safety.

Council members asked about park access during painting, scaffolding or ladders, and anti‑graffiti finishes. Sykes said the dome is already painted over repeatedly, that he can work on a ladder and that his approach is professional spray paint with a protective finish. Deputy mayor Bowman asked that the city provide a small step ladder or similar access; Rob and staff said they would provide site support and coordinate with operations for a temporary fenced work area so the mural can be painted while the rest of the park remains open. Council member Kuipers and others praised the design and recommended the city consider future canvases such as the pickleball court at Kiwanis Park.

Action: council formally directed staff to work with the artist on the mural and later voted to move forward; PACE member comments and the artist’s portfolio were noted in the record.

Ending: staff said they will publicize painting dates and provide a time‑lapse or progress photographs for the city’s public‑information channels; council emphasized this would be a pilot that could inform a larger public‑art program.","An artist proposal to paint a mural on the Battle Ground Skate Park dome received a unanimous advisory recommendation from the PACE board and direction from council to have staff work with the artist on implementation; the council emphasized temporary protection during painting and the potential for additional public‑art canvases.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6246644,"City council and WSDOT discuss phased speed reductions on state routes 502 and 503",3858,5748000,9606000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3217055-6ec58a7f872a928068c79507bbe937fd&start=5748&end=9606","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3217055-6ec58a7f872a928068c79507bbe937fd/thumbnail_5748000.jpg","/articles/6246644/Battle-Ground-City/Clark-County/Washington/City-council-and-WSDOT-discuss-phased-speed-reductions-on-state-routes-502-and-503","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6246644-499de8f84ee292298724b583d894d706/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196269&Signature=gUK9kDEEj8MBglkxl9Q0KpKvIuspqUZgUnPwCVM0TTprAaua0qZA8Kfx1AjD7WNHWh52JM46QsfdP4k8dxtNyDo5X4muiA8cRD6sv9-YGTuAU1fgMYKmhuYbO8KBs3kenVkgJAh-BWGH4VlRhTsSFjO7bo4SLY1lzRlm4PwKrOT8NUiJehUiVUzm8d8-O2RYpFqQ2E2Ci~0mrEy9EbsbMZ~SJ3DIORpEwpz4buf5cZTHrY~aHix23huXz1Q5oyCglcvTzf4OihQuZgu1FP7v7kEc5HD8U8lZI4TkrjRoLSMRhJwHGItmGhHHG6c1cDAexRdm1VzeC80sdbYOXBS9Gw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Battle Ground City Council heard a WSDOT presentation May 5 about proposed speed‑limit changes on State Route 502 and State Route 503 and held a public hearing on the proposal.

Devin Reck and Michael Southwick of the Washington State Department of Transportation described a phased approach: sign changes and speed‑limit adjustments that reflect existing conditions now, with the option to reduce speeds further as infrastructure (sidewalks, medians, splitter islands, roundabouts) is added. WSDOT staff said they set a near‑term change that moves the 30‑mph posting farther west (near 20th Ninth) and retains a 40‑mph transition zone until planned traffic‑calming improvements are made.

The nut graf: council and WSDOT balanced immediate safety desires against the engineering need to change roadway context to get driver compliance. WSDOT recommended a phased implementation — immediate sign changes where warranted followed by further reductions after concrete improvements such as medians, sidewalks or roundabouts are completed.

Members of the public urged faster action to reduce speeds at several locations: resident Reggie Hall asked the council to lower a neighborhood speed limit to 15 mph near Whispering Pines Park and to ask WSDOT to raise the 35‑mph segment farther west to 50; Jessica Cole urged extending the 30‑mph posting past 20th Ninth because of heavy local turning movements. WSDOT staff and city engineers replied that the 30‑mph posting can be adopted by council but that achieving driver compliance with lower limits commonly requires physical roadway changes; they also noted that some lower posted speeds (for example a 20‑mph school zone) require a marked crosswalk to meet state rules.

Council members asked about construction‑zone speed behavior, enforcement and timescale for capital work. WSDOT said some roundabouts (including one at 90th/Second) are expected to be built by summer, subject to developer schedules and permits; other projects such as Rasmussen roundabout are also in design or permitting stages. The Department said temporary lane reductions for construction are governed by the work‑zone configuration and should be engineered to control speeds.

Action: after public hearing, council adopted Resolution 25‑03 listing the updated city speed limits for review and implementation in coordination with WSDOT. The motion to adopt the resolution was moved and approved at the May 5 meeting; staff and WSDOT described the adoption as the city’s endorsement of the phased target speeds and asked WSDOT to continue implementing changes in coordination with the city as road context changes.

Ending: WSDOT and city staff agreed to return as needed with updated studies and to implement the phased reductions when roadway improvements are in place; the public was advised that signs alone do not ensure compliance without accompanying traffic‑calming or access changes.","WSDOT staff and city officials reviewed proposed speed‑limit changes on State Route 502 and 503, including a phased plan to lower speeds to 30/40 mph as roadway context and safety improvements occur; council opened a public hearing and later adopted a city resolution setting new posted limits.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6246649,"Battle Ground City gets update on 2045 comprehensive plan, housing targets and new climate requirement",1281,502000,1783000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3217055-6ec58a7f872a928068c79507bbe937fd&start=502&end=1783","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3217055-6ec58a7f872a928068c79507bbe937fd/thumbnail_502000.jpg","/articles/6246649/Battle-Ground-City/Clark-County/Washington/Battle-Ground-City-gets-update-on-2045-comprehensive-plan-housing-targets-and-new-climate-requirement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6246649-1c865a4d537519c179e79205b0a5c23b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196269&Signature=mQSY98JTDymgy4acDkVwDQsCh7yEOY1jqBb-8BHe7oo2CvRoW7LVY~JANjn2YmkzQtRJQri5X6ZpEN8CDQOp1d1kAz7xBfiJVKSpIcqjVW7Jcc4DyclttBy~Gwhab537QGEro9qOrWEqUveIc7T9Os~SToVWwl9NwpmneaKmDCLkMRt1d0r5d2iQEafqq~hoFXwSSPaWZ3JUmBxDJe7VpnIK6Z-MlAIetmXSPWbac0fU1Kg3sR46TUMQq4S~8uZqHwtCgc-qcFOgBi41GCEQ9K-uzBrV2IYH2yB9JLS83ztCahhlrNM12AXhauxQZOLEH5av~pZxOW-Ds7~xSpOzuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Battle Ground City Council heard a status update May 5 on the city’s comprehensive plan update, including how the plan must meet Clark County housing and job targets and a newly required climate element.

The update was given by Ben Hahn of Burke Consulting and Planning Supervisor Sam Premitt, with staff member Kristen introducing the presentation. Hahn described the comprehensive plan as “a 20‑year, guiding document” and said the consulting team is coordinating with Clark County and the Office of Financial Management to show where growth can be located.

The nut graf: the city must show how it will accommodate county‑allocated housing and job growth through 2045 while meeting new state law requirements for a climate element. The climate element is funded by a Washington Department of Commerce grant and will include both resilience (evacuation routes, emergency management) and greenhouse‑gas reduction subelements, Hahn said.

Hahn said the plan update will integrate recent local work — the 2021 land use master plan, the 2021 housing action plan and the 2022 parks, recreation and open‑space plan — and that Burke Consulting is preparing a land‑capacity analysis to demonstrate whether the city can meet its county targets within the existing urban growth boundary. He also listed the elements the comp plan will address: land use, housing, capital facilities, utilities, transportation, parks and open space, environment (including the Shoreline Management Act), economic development and a climate element required by a recent state bill.

Council members and staff discussed how the climate element interfaces with the county growth process. Deputy mayor Bowman asked whether the county weighs climate when allocating lands for jobs; Hahn said climate strategies factor into the element but that state policies and other regional work already influence local emissions outcomes. Sam Premitt added that trails and multimodal connections — an item citizens repeatedly requested in outreach — are a specific focus because they reduce driving and fit climate goals.

Council members pressed technical points about where growth would be allowed. Hahn and Premitt described the city’s preferred growth alternative (based on the 2021 study) that targets job growth toward Dollar’s Corner and would accommodate most residential growth inside existing city limits. Council members asked about specific areas discussed in the study, including Meadowglade, Tukes Mountain (water‑tank area) and possible site‑specific requests near the city edge. Premitt said some parcels on Tukes Mountain and other site‑specific requests are included in the maps and that the capacity analysis may show the city needs additional acreage.

On the county allocation, Hahn said the initial Clark County allocation requires Battle Ground to accommodate 6,975 housing units between 2023 and 2045, broken down by area‑median income bands. Hahn said those numbers are a starting point in negotiations with the county and that the allocation is still under review.

Council discussion also covered middle‑housing typologies, accessory dwelling units and density. Hahn said duplexes, townhomes and fourplexes are already allowed in many zones and that the city is not under a current state requirement to adopt new middle‑housing ordinances beyond what state law mandates. He explained that lower‑density zoning (single‑family) typically serves higher AMI households, while increased multifamily density is more likely to produce lower‑cost units, and that accessory dwelling units can serve low‑to‑moderate incomes because of their smaller size.

Council direction: members indicated support for the consulting team to continue with the preferred growth alternative, to include several site‑specific requests (including some R‑3 options) for further study, and to coordinate with Clark County on the county allocation and the environmental impact statement process. Premitt said the city must complete the comprehensive plan update by December 2025.

Ending: staff emphasized that the comp plan update is in an interim stage — with a preferred growth alternative and alternative maps submitted to the county — and that the next work products will include the land‑capacity analysis, maps used for county review, and draft elements that reflect the public engagement themes (trees, walkability, placemaking and housing near existing infrastructure).","City planning staff and consultant Ben Hahn briefed the council on the comprehensive plan update for a 2045 horizon, explaining housing and job targets from Clark County, a new required climate element funded by the Washington Department of Commerce, and early public engagement results.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council sets June 2 hearing for proposed code changes on ADUs, design standards and stormwater rules

Council approves staff to work with artist on skate park mural after PACE recommendation

City council and WSDOT discuss phased speed reductions on state routes 502 and 503

Battle Ground City gets update on 2045 comprehensive plan, housing targets and new climate requirement