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Cowlitz County to hold public hearing on shifting approval of small private roads to Building and Planning
Summary
The county scheduled a public hearing on amendments to the Short Subdivision Ordinance to let Building and Planning approve Type D private roads serving up to four lots; planning staff said the change aims to reduce costs and processing complexity for small family-driven short plats
Cowlitz County will hold a public hearing on a unanimous planning commission recommendation to amend the county—s Short Subdivision Ordinance so that private roads and driveways serving fewer than five lots (Type D roads) are approved by the Department of Building and Planning rather than the county engineer/public works.
Tracy Jackson, Building and Planning, and Adam Trimble, planning manager, told commissioners the change is aimed at lowering the cost and complexity of small developments where a shared driveway or short plat serving two to four lots otherwise triggers a large road upgrade. Jackson said small family-driven splits sometimes face disproportionately large road upgrade costs compared with the size of the subdivision.
The proposed amendment would let Building and Planning set specific standards for Type D roads that ensure safe emergency access and support fire apparatus without requiring the higher standards appropriate for larger public roads. Jackson said the standards would enable a one-lane gravel road in some cases if it safely supports emergency equipment.
Commissioners and staff said the measure should speed permitting for small short plats and reduce the workload that otherwise would go through Public Works engineering, but some members of the Bike-Ped Advisory Committee (BPAC) worried that approving this narrow change might stall broader reviews of private-road standards the committee has been working on for two years.
Tracy Jackson said the planning commission unanimously recommended the amendment; staff also reported there are currently no active short-subdivision projects that would immediately move to Building and Planning under the new rule (existing in-process projects are higher-category roads).
The board scheduled the public hearing for the next regular meeting; the board may take testimony, hold its own legislative hearing, and decide whether to adopt the amendments.
