County to remove and replace trees in north parking lot; work scheduled over three weekends

COWLITZ COUNTY — The county plans to begin phased maintenance of the north parking lot adjacent to the administration building this weekend, removing existing trees and stumps, upgrading light poles, grinding and paving the surface, replacing curbs, restriping stalls and removing a white vinyl fence.

Mike Moss, public services director, told the board the work will be done in three successive weekends starting Friday, with barricades placed Thursday evening to keep the lot clear for the contractor. He said staff will ensure the lot is available for the work week and that a notification email will go to county staff.

Moss acknowledged that removing the trees during their leafed‑out season will upset some people initially: “If you take these trees out in December when they look bad, it's not a big deal, but now they're beautiful green trees and all of a sudden, we'll get back.” He said the contractor, Bridal Tree Service, will remove trees and stumps and that public works will follow to complete paving and striping.

On replacement species, Moss said the county reached out to the city of Castle Rock for recommendations and mentioned the afterburner black gum (a cultivar of Nyssa sylvatica, commonly called black gum) as an option because its roots grow deep and are less likely to lift sidewalks. He said the county will evaluate the center area after removal to decide whether to install planters or retain a green space with new trees.

Commissioners confirmed the project will reconfigure existing pavement and not add parking spaces. Moss noted that the county cannot alter the adjacent city‑owned street and that any city projects in that area are separate.

Ending: Work is scheduled to start this weekend in phases; county staff will notify employees, maintain weekday access, and return to the board with any further design choices for tree replacement or landscaping.