Several residents urged the Skamania County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday to ask the planning commission to revisit its July 15 hearing on the “unmapped” area north of Underwood, saying the Growth Management Act review steps for resource and critical areas were not clearly aired.

Joe Keir, who identified himself as a Washoe-area resident, told the board he had spoken with “Director Weimar” earlier the same day and remained concerned that the planning commission hearing “skipped a step of reviewing what the Growth Management Act requires of us to review an unmapped area for what our resource lands... and critical areas” such as forest lands and unstable slopes.

Sally Jones, a West End resident, said she had submitted a longer written letter to the county and urged commissioners to “reconsider reevaluating the outcome of the July,” and to consider a temporary designation to avoid premature residential conversion. Jones suggested the county temporarily designate the properties “to CRL 40 for the time being and wait until the review” (the comprehensive review cycle) before accepting a residential option.

Neither Keir nor Jones proposed specific zoning language beyond the temporary CRL 40 designation; both asked the planning commission and board to ensure the statutory steps under the Growth Management Act and the county comprehensive plan are followed before final zoning changes are adopted. The board acknowledged the written comments submitted and the planning staff said commissioners would receive the staff recommendation within the statutory timelines for planning decisions.

No formal action on the unmapped-area designations was taken during the July 22 meeting; the board indicated staff will deliver recommendations and that the matter will proceed through the statutory public meeting and review timeline.