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Skamania County halts proposed West End rezoning after staff flags legal risk
Summary
Planning staff advised the board to end a process considering rezoning about 274 acres in the West End; residents urged preservation of the community's subarea plan and raised water and lot-size concerns.
Skamania County commissioners directed staff to stop processing a proposed zoning map amendment for roughly 274 acres in the West End after planning staff warned the change could invite legal challenge and conflict with the subarea plan.
The zoning review had been prompted by a request to reclassify an area mapped RL-10 (Rural Lands 10) to RL-5 to enable additional lot splits. Planning commission members held a public hearing on Jan. 7 and recommended forwarding the item to the board. After staff's analysis, however, the board was told the West End sub area comprehensive plan and county code would require findings similar to a site-specific rezoning, increasing the risk of an appeal. Planning staff advised commissioners: "I wouldn't I'm not gonna recommend that you move forward. I recommend that you terminate it." (planning staff)
Residents who testified during the Jan. 14 public comment period opposed a spot rezoning and stressed the participatory process used to create the West End plan. Joe Kier, a West End resident, said the neighborhood contains many undersized lots: "There are 40 lots that have access on Matthews Road... they're all undersized," and cautioned that the map reflects years of community deliberation. (Joe Kier)
Sally Dr. Jones, another West End resident and participant in the subarea process, urged the board to recognize the community's long-standing planning work: "It was definitely not something that was a mistake or an error that needed to be corrected," she said, arguing that the plan was the product of repeated community meetings and intent.
Staff told the board the area contains roughly 50 parcels and only six currently meet criteria to split under RL-10; rezoning to RL-5 would change subdivision potential. Planning staff said the subarea plan explicitly contemplates periodic updates but noted a full comprehensive review would be the preferred pathway and that proceeding through an ad hoc spot rezoning could draw appeals and possible litigation.
Rather than moving ahead with a site-specific amendment, the board directed staff to end the current rezoning process and to work with community members on a longer-term review of the West End subarea plan and possible targeted amendments. Staff said additional research will be needed on water-resource constraints and other factors cited by residents during public comment, and that any future map changes would follow the county's formal amendment procedures.
