Planning staff to hold public hearing on comprehensive-plan amendment; stop-work order and critical-areas grant discussed

Cowlitz County planning staff on Monday said they will hold a public hearing on a comprehensive-plan map amendment that would change a portion of rural land from a five-acre minimum to a two-acre minimum lot-size designation. “It's not gonna be incompatible with the area,” Planning Manager Adam Trimble told commissioners, adding the change “takes 1 property from a nonconforming status… and put it into a conforming status,” and noting the application has planning commission and staff recommendation. Trimble said the primary property owner contacted staff and supports inclusion of adjacent parcels to create a logical block for the map change; he also explained that any future subdivision proposals would still have to meet permitting reviews including water-availability and critical-area assessments. Separately, planning staff briefed the board on a stop-work order issued to a property owner who began work before receiving required permits. Staff said they have visited the site with other agencies, verified the owner is not working in the two areas restricted by the stop-work order, and reported the owner is cooperating while working through the permitting process. The board also discussed pursuing a Department of Commerce grant that would provide up to $75,000 to support an update to the county's critical areas ordinance and the “best available science” used to justify the update. Planning staff and commissioners agreed the county would issue an RFP for a consultant to prepare county-specific science and ordinance language, which staff argued would strengthen the county’s position when Ecology or state guidance is applied. Why it matters: the map amendment could change future development options for the affected parcels, and the Commerce grant would fund technical work on critical-area standards that affect permitting, flood planning, and grant eligibility for flood mitigation projects. What was not decided: the public hearing on the comprehensive-plan amendment will take place at the next meeting; the Department of Commerce grant application was discussed and staff asked for permission to apply. Commissioners indicated support to apply and requested a signature-ready letter of support if needed. Ending: planning staff will hold the advertised public hearing, compile agency comments, and proceed with standard review and recommendations to the board.