Developer interest in Lewis River Road parcels raises questions on apartments, RV park and city-owned parkland

City officials told residents Sept. 15 that a developer has purchased parcels near Lewis River Road and is exploring an apartment complex for land east of the roundabout, while separately proposing a campground or RV park that would involve use or lease of roughly seven acres the city owns.

Mayor Todd Deinhardt and staff described the apartment inquiry as an owner-initiated zoning change request that, if submitted, would go first to the planning commission and later to council for a final decision. Deinhardt said cities may place moratoria only for limited reasons such as water or sewer capacity; he said Woodland currently has water and sewer capacity, so a moratorium would not be automatic.

At the same site, a developer asked the city about leasing or otherwise using a 7-acre, city-owned riverfront parcel for a campground that could include RV spaces, picnic shelters, pickleball courts and primitive camping. City staff and council members noted a key constraint: much of that property lies in the floodway, which limits permanent structures and complicates development.

Several council members and residents said an RV park would not fit the area. Council member Dowdy said she was “absolutely not in favor” of an RV park at the location, citing child-safety, traffic impacts and nearby homes. A resident who identified himself as an experienced RV owner said the likely traffic patterns—single entrance and exit points with large recreational vehicles—would exacerbate existing congestion.

City staff and advisory members said the developer discussed a model in which the developer would build rustic recreational amenities, open the campground to community use and employ a maintenance manager to care for both the private site and the city park. Staff noted the property’s floodway zoning encourages public recreation uses but limits permanent structures; the city can lease land but any commercial campground would require a zoning change because RV parks are a commercial use under Woodland’s code.

The council did not vote on zoning or any lease. Staff said the developer will prepare drawings and come back for further discussion; the mayor said he would welcome the developer to present formally to council or the planning commission. Council members asked staff to emphasize traffic and safety, the property's floodway limitations and the planning commission review process in any future submittal.

Background and next steps: any proposed change to commercial use or establishment of an RV park would require a planning-commission recommendation and a council vote; because the parcels include floodway and state-owned slivers, additional permits and state agency coordination would be required.