[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6060726,"mediaKeyId","3288879-8681bbf8db854831daffb9f77a93dcb3","parentId",3288879,"title","Residents ask commissioners to help fund batting cage at Tam O'Shanter to boost youth sports and tourism","audioSeconds",419,"startMs",2687000,"endMs",3106000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3288879-8681bbf8db854831daffb9f77a93dcb3&start=2687&end=3106","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3288879-8681bbf8db854831daffb9f77a93dcb3/thumbnail_2687000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6060726/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Residents-ask-commissioners-to-help-fund-batting-cage-at-Tam-OShanter-to-boost-youth-sports-and-tourism","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060726-31815d4823c4ed41a734485e6db493b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771122020&Signature=bJdQFKiKaj0Yr6EtX-TAZImukNkZEhfTJhkbZ-1Qf1~WBe-Az88e9kt0HTLHcgcqB4z6RtUA4iuHMxwqImBdHhvRya4iUXbXHb3o5AFkBX1Pfhs-3CbPeFmeK6SNJV~UnCNqQ18hN97PJacvNTaGZVIEMhBa9U25klblLYl81n3dcNcd7wE0ENttTPTYWI5w9Dt1yGiRJpBi8VRMFTEcBGLmmuQvTeQzck3Cg9MlHqzjkjXzXlgNtDTHo9cQpqHLss~SlJ5gVDqWn~x5VvC54hb6W7ptEpegCzTw8YtogY3kOcFGsz7nvKxojB3xOVBwuo3kW5ffHE4L6Dh~eaq87w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cowlitz County Commissioners, Washington","date","2025-05-13T19:39:50Z","article","Several residents told the Board of County Commissioners they are seeking county help to fund a year‑round batting cage at Tam O'Shanter sports complex, telling commissioners the facility could both improve youth sports development and drive regional tourism.

Jim Hill, a longtime community volunteer, told the board a single batting cage could allow the complex to attract regional and national tournament teams and increase local tourism and hotel stays. \"A batting cage is not just for skilled development, gentlemen. That facility means that we can reach out to national organizations and bring kids here to play baseball and softball,\" Hill said. He estimated the project would cost \"slightly over $200,000\" and said volunteers and local contractors would contribute sweat equity to the build.

Kelly White, another community member and former coach, described current scheduling constraints and said limited existing batting‑cage space forces teams to practice late at night. Commissioners acknowledged the potential economic benefits and said they would look into options with state grant programs and the county public facilities district. One commissioner noted the project might be a logical \"piggyback\" with planned fairgrounds sports‑complex improvements in the public facilities district capital plan.

No formal county funding decision or motion was made at the meeting; commissioners expressed support and said staff and relevant partners could explore funding opportunities and potential partnerships with the Port of Longview, the state and the Cowlitz County Public Facilities District.

Endnote: residents asked the county to consider workshops or briefings where sports groups could present detailed plans and a fundraising strategy.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tuesday Regular Public Meeting - 5/13/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Residents urged the Cowlitz County commissioners to help secure roughly $200,000 for a batting cage at Tam O'Shanter sports complex, saying the facility would support youth development and attract regional tournaments and visitors.","taxTitle","Cowlitz County, Washington","taxId",5122,"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},6060732,"Cowlitz County shifts dangerous‑animal hearings to hearing examiner",240,4091000,4331000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3288879-8681bbf8db854831daffb9f77a93dcb3&start=4091&end=4331","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3288879-8681bbf8db854831daffb9f77a93dcb3/thumbnail_4091000.jpg","/articles/6060732/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-shifts-dangerousanimal-hearings-to-hearing-examiner","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060732-0bc6d8bfeb4080a2cc13e9fdc3ae7e67/orig.mp4?Expires=1771122020&Signature=XPL7vSXtKb9YZ9tn2oObF~upZ6u7oQ1MHcBJKq~TX7wpwmEQq4gdrXv-z2lrN-tcTd-4-JiTq3eiarDK7ll1isEIqEiv-W6dVPK~014tdN7pq2zOOCf~HjUTRnDpe5uKRW0CPhRsLXrt~nfRWLAyjE0mKdzhmpmWyb0SfB80fRnF3ylnHNf7IVZN1rXbFM1hHd1EEoIWCbvh54y6DAFWXKoJ7JDlQ46VukOrxK0M2rGgVWFfFeYYRwKPzQexUSZQNNizROJ7Z8yzbqoZboghOEc5ZjjM0DQGMIyIRIQW2ZiT7mrH3NMxVkrvWMhUQmuLXeSZrhuKaHKT7iI5nVOeng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cowlitz County Board of County Commissioners voted to amend Chapter 6.13 of the county code to transfer determinations about dangerous domestic animals to a retained hearing examiner.

Jason Loreen of the Cowlitz County Prosecuting Attorney's Office told the board the change follows a workshop with the new board and staff analysis. \"It would benefit all parties if a hearing examiner were to hear any hearings regarding the determination of an animal being dangerous or not,\" he said. Loreen said the prior board had used a board‑level determination and that other counties' experience (cited in staff work) suggested using a hearing examiner is more efficient for a likely small number of annual cases.

The amendment applies to domestic animals (household pets) and does not change state fish and wildlife authority over wild animals such as bears or cougars; a public commenter asked whether the chapter covers wildlife and was told the code addresses domestic animals and that wildlife concerns are handled by state fish and wildlife.

Commissioners moved and approved the amendment by voice vote during the meeting.

Endnote: staff said the county already retains hearing examiners for some land‑use matters and that the new assignment would fit within those existing services; officials estimated relatively few hearings of this type each year.","The Board approved an amendment to Chapter 6.13 of the Cowlitz County Code to use a retained hearing examiner for determinations of dangerous domestic animals, a change county attorneys said will streamline a low-volume process.",{"_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},6060737,"Cowlitz County approves preliminary plat for Whiskey Flats subdivision with staff conditions",3381,623000,4004000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3288879-8681bbf8db854831daffb9f77a93dcb3&start=623&end=4004","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3288879-8681bbf8db854831daffb9f77a93dcb3/thumbnail_623000.jpg","/articles/6060737/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-approves-preliminary-plat-for-Whiskey-Flats-subdivision-with-staff-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060737-0ee27ee336ae368b2f56861639478b1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771122020&Signature=Q3bKTWcSB0ImDgvb1CZeCOuAP9Kjpk7EIlDulhEdBTjslzaVMkQt6WaQ7pY81reUhhWG~QaQc~BszTZe3MGusR2UJcq-mhjih3OHN0YfysDZe5vsnFFphaneuEWaGdDb5MYUPcYTFyPlXq2llyjsSIDNglIbIbaOqsmSdx0FQPHDYMLPLYZJoexXUHonPPUPasDv5stbBawpFO6PihDOabmCab1SUj8rbpEo7XM98AdJiIZpoImWLGNUDnh7zpFo8bCIwvOQOFWZPcrIdASeWIwiaGXSoSEwDER8t3Md9dFCWOc2gQK4~JIBrl-~e7F-J4wcg1A0ZF~jsKHM7VeALg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cowlitz County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve the preliminary plat for Whiskey Flats, a 20-lot, 3.6-acre cottage-housing subdivision near Gassman Road and West Side Highway in unincorporated Cowlitz County, during its May meeting.

The approval follows a planning commission public hearing and a split recommendation: the planning commission voted 4-2 to recommend approval without granting a requested waiver on maximum unit size, while county staff recommended allowing a modification that would let up to one‑third of the units have up to 1,400 square feet of habitable space rather than the county's 1,200-square-foot cap. Planning staff presented the project as using the county's cottage-housing provisions to allow attached single‑family units on individual lots with private yards.

Adam Trimble, planning manager, summarized the competing recommendations and the modification request: \"the developer requested a modification to go up to 1,400 square feet for a third of those 20 units, and staff was recommending approval of that.\" After discussion about septic, road design and other conditions, a commissioner moved to approve the preliminary subdivision plat \"with the staff recommended waiver request,\" and the motion passed.

Why it matters: the approval clears a key early regulatory step for the subdivision but does not authorize construction. Commissioners and staff repeatedly stressed that several technical approvals and designs remain before building permits or lot creation are issued. The board and staff emphasized that a final plat, detailed septic designs, and street and utility designs must be approved before vertical construction can begin.

Key details and conditions from the discussion:
- Project scope: 20 lots on a 3.6-acre site using cottage-housing provisions; single‑story attached units, each with a one‑car garage and a driveway space for a second vehicle as envisioned in the preliminary plat.
- Unit-size modification: county code caps \"habitable space\" for cottage housing at 1,200 square feet; the developer requested a modification to allow up to 1,400 square feet for up to one‑third of units. Staff recommended approving that modification; the planning commission had recommended approval without the modification; the Board approved the staff-recommended approach.
- Septic and water: the site will use on‑site septic systems and public water. Staff and commenters noted that septic designs are conceptual now and must be proven feasible during the permit and final‑plat phase. As Trimble explained, the developer has \"done some due diligence\" with the environmental health unit, but a constructible septic design is required at permitting.
- Roadway mitigation and timing: the developer agreed to fund and deliver a design to realign Gassman Road at its intersection with West Side Highway to reduce the skew of the junction; the county will retain that design and seek construction funding through the county's six‑year Transportation Improvement Program and external grants. County Engineer Susan (county engineer) said the developer \"would do the design and complete the design as part of his subdivision design and dedicate that right away to the county. Then we would put that on our 6 year plan and start working on grant funding.\" Staff said the intersection construction will depend on funding availability; having the design improves grant competitiveness.
- Homeowners association and maintenance: the development will have an HOA; staff said HOA documents must show responsibility for on‑site stormwater and shared septic systems where applicable and will be reviewed by planning and legal staff before final plat.
- Public-safety and fire access: the subdivision will be on public water with hydrants; the county fire marshal will review access and hydrant spacing as part of permit review.

Discussion highlights: neighbors repeatedly raised concerns about well impacts, septic clustering, on‑street parking spilling onto Gassman Road, and whether the road realignment would be completed before construction. Several residents said they had received notices late; staff clarified that planning commission public hearings require a minimum 10‑day notice and a 300‑foot mailed notice radius under county code. Residents also asked about wells drilled on nearby parcels and whether covenants could bar new wells for irrigation; staff said well permits run through the environmental health unit and state agencies and that a shared HOA well for common‑area irrigation would need to be permitted and included in HOA documents.

Next steps: preliminary plat approval allows the developer to move to final plat and engineering design phases. Staff noted preliminary plat approvals expire after five years if not finalized. Before final plat and building permits, the developer must deliver constructible engineering designs (including septic and the Gassman Road realignment design), recorded HOA documents acceptable to county review, and any other required permits and mitigation.

Endnote: The commission framed the decision as balancing property‑rights and neighborhood impacts; commissioners said they view the county code process as the means to manage remaining technical issues rather than to block development outright.","The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners approved a 20-lot preliminary plat for the Whiskey Flats cottage-housing development, accepting staff's recommended modification allowing larger units for a portion of the site while requiring the developer to provide a road realignment design and other conditions before final plat.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents ask commissioners to help fund batting cage at Tam O'Shanter to boost youth sports and tourism

Cowlitz County shifts dangerous‑animal hearings to hearing examiner

Cowlitz County approves preliminary plat for Whiskey Flats subdivision with staff conditions