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Cowlitz County holds joint CAO workshop; staff propose wider riparian buffers and new reasonable‑use pathways amid heated Q&A
Summary
County planners presented a draft Critical Areas Ordinance update recommending wider riparian buffer widths (including a proposed 180‑foot buffer for type F streams), updated wetland frameworks, and new administrative reasonable‑use exceptions; commissioners, developers and ports pressed for clarity on costs, best available science and flexibility for property owners.
Cowlitz County planning staff and consultant Bassett presented a draft update to the county Critical Areas Ordinance in a joint workshop with the planning commission, proposing changes to wetland buffer administration, riparian buffer widths tied to site‑potential tree height and new reasonable‑use and public‑agency/utility exception pathways.
Kyle Gotgett, Bassett environmental consultant, summarized the work that will accompany the update—best available science (BAS) report, a gap analysis and draft CAO—and said the county’s deadline to complete the update is Dec. 31, 2026. He said the draft adopts the Ecology wetland buffer ‘option 2’ framework and…
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