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Cowlitz County commissioners table Totiff Road vacation after residents raise Port of Kalama encroachment, dust concerns
Summary
Residents told the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners that vacating a strip of Totiff Road would move Port of Kalama operations closer to homes and worsen grain dust and noise; the board voted to table the petition to April 7, 2026, to seek more information from the port and planning staff.
Cowlitz County commissioners on Tuesday delayed action on a petition by the Port of Kalama to vacate a portion of Totiff Road after nearby residents said the change would bring industrial activity closer to their homes and increase dust and noise.
At a public hearing opened by county public works staff, Anna Lunde, a county right-of-way specialist, described the requested vacation as affecting a driveway approach that currently provides access to 220 Totiff Road and an adjacent grain elevator. Staff said the segment is a historic right-of-way that is assessed to the owner of 220 Totiff Road and that vacating it would "revert to the property owners" abutting the easement — in this case, the Port of Kalama, according to public works remarks.
Mitchell Surles, who identified himself as the owner of the property next to 220 Totiff Road, told commissioners the right-of-way has long separated the port’s industrial area from residences. "It only seems to benefit the port," Surles said, adding that since the grain elevator's expansion residents have experienced increased noise and recurring dust: "Every summer we go out and have over a quarter of an inch of grain dock dust all over our decks." He said the change would make industrial operations "40 feet closer" to some homes and expressed concern the port could later seek development closer to the riverfront.
Commissioners and staff discussed process and protections: public works staff said vacating a county right-of-way removes the county’s property rights and reverts the strip to underlying owners, but any future change in use would still be subject to land-use and zoning review. Commissioners said they were surprised no one from the port had appeared to explain plans and asked planning staff and the port to provide more information.
A commissioner moved to table the matter and set a continued hearing date. The board amended the motion and scheduled the continuation for April 7, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in the hearing room; the motion to table passed (vote tally not specified in the transcript).
The hearing remains open and the county will request the Port of Kalama and planning staff to provide the port’s current plans for the property and any environmental or dust-control measures in place before the board takes further action.
