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.

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.