Community Development Blog
The Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board issued its long-awaited Final Compliance Order and Order Rescinding Invalidity regarding agricultural resource land designations in Lewis County. - Posted at: 1/5/2010 8:42:30 AM
Media Release: Lewis County Board of Commissioners, December 30th, 2009
The Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board issued its long-awaited Final Compliance Order and Order Rescinding Invalidity regarding agricultural resource land designations in Lewis County. The County had been previously out of compliance with the goals and requirements of the Growth Management Act (GMA) and had placed over 170,000 acres of land under a development moratorium as a result. Earlier this fall, the County adopted changes to the comprehensive plan and development regulations to address the final four issues found to be non-compliant, including the designation of approximately 90,000 total acres within the County as agricultural resource land. This Growth Board Decision finds the County in full compliance with the Growth Management Act which will allow lifting of the development moratorium that had been in place since 2004.
This is the first time since 1999 that the County has been fully compliant with the Growth Management Act. As a result, the County is fully free to develop based on the current comprehensive plan and implementing development regulations.
Now that the Growth Board has found compliance with GMA, the County will schedule a public hearing on January 25, 2010, at or after 10:00 a.m. to hear public testimony prior to taking action to lift the development moratorium. Once the moratorium is lifted, the County will be able to process land use, building and other development permits within the County in areas that had been subject to the development moratorium.
The Board of County Commissioners wishes to thank the Planning Commission, staff, consultants, and the public for their efforts and dedication to address those remaining issues that resulted in this favorable decision. Lewis County can now focus efforts and resources on creating jobs and new economic opportunities for all citizens.
For additional information concerning this decision or the public hearing, please contact our Community Development Department, located at 2025 NE Kresky Avenue, Chehalis, WA; or telephone: (360) 740- 1146.
Burn Restrictions in Lewis County - Posted at: 7/6/2009 2:37:19 PM
Burn Permits are Currently Unavailable
At 12:01 a.m. July 27, 2010 burn restrictions will be in effect for all of Lewis County, Washington.
Following the recommendation of the Department of Natural Resources, a
review of the moisture content of large woody material, and the current
and extended weather forecast, the Lewis County Fire Marshal has
determined that current weather conditions within Lewis County have
created substantial fire dangers throughout Lewis County, and that
there is a need to impose a discontinuance and ban on outdoor burning
on all lands regulated by the County of Lewis, EXCEPT for recreational
fires contained within UL-approved burning receptacles or approved
campfire sites.
The burning restrictions will remain in
effect until such discontinuance is modified or rescinded by the Board
of County Commissioners. A public announcement of the lifting of the
burn restrictions will be made at that time. For further information
concerning outdoor burning and/or the restrictions being imposed,
please contact Fred Chapman, the Lewis County Fire Marshal, at (360)
740-1146. The Fire Marshal’s office is in the Lewis County Public
Services building, located at 2025 NE Kresky Avenue, Chehalis,
Washington.