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INFORMATION SHEETS - Index
WRIA 25/26 & 17/28 |
Zoning | Critical Areas
| Forest Conversion
Growth Management & Comprehensive Planning
| Floodplain Management
Subdivisions | Shoreline Management Act |
State
Environmental Policy Act |
Private Roads |
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WRIA 25 & 26, WRIA 27 & 28 |
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Under the
State of Washington’s Watershed Management Act (Chapter
90.82 RCW) local governments
are authorized to initiate a watershed planning process. The process is
broad in scope and involves stakeholders and agencies at the local,
regional, state and federal levels. The watershed planning program is
designed to foster planning for water quantity, water quality, aquatic
habitat and instream flow in a comprehensive and integrated fashion.
Cowlitz County is within four watershed
basins. The four basins were combined into two Planning Units: the
Grays-Elochoman and Cowlitz Watershed Management Plan WRIA 25/26 and
Salmon-Washougal and Lewis Watershed 27/28.
More. |
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Zoning |
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Zoning is the tool local governments use to
regulate and protect land use activities. Cowlitz County's zoning
regulations are established in Chapter 18.10 of the Cowlitz County Code,
the Land Use Ordinance. The regulations are intended to carry
out the general purposes of the County Comprehensive Plan.
More. |
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Critical Areas |
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Cowlitz County has adopted and administers
through its Department of Building and Planning a Critical Areas
Ordinance, set forth as Chapter 19.15 of the Cowlitz County Code. This
Ordinance was mandated by the Washington State Growth Management Act (RCW
36.70A.060), and covers all unincorporated areas of the County.
More. |
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Forest
Conversion |
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As part of our salmon recovery efforts, and as required by state law.
In 1997 the state legislature passed changes to the State Forest
Practices Act. Under these rules, counties are required to adopt
ordinances that equal or exceed the State Forest Practice's resource
protection rules and regulations. If you
would like more information on forest conversions contact
Sheldon Somers. |
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Growth
Management and Comprehensive
Planning |
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The purpose of the Plan is to manage the
County's growth in an orderly, positive, and constructive fashion. All
other development ordinances, including land use (zoning), subdivision,
and environmental regulations must be in compliance with and consistent
with this Comprehensive Planning document. More. |
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Floodplain Management |
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Cowlitz County participates in the Federal
Flood Insurance Study (FIS) program. Local governments participate in
this program by regulating development in floodplains. Cowlitz County's
Floodplain Management Ordinance, based on federal guidelines, is
contained in Chapter 16.25 of the Cowlitz County Code. By regulating
where and how development occurs within floodplains, Cowlitz County
provides for federally subsidized floodplain insurance which
significantly reduces flood insurance rates for home owners.
More. |
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Subdivisions |
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A division of land by creating new lots for
sale or transfer includes short subdivisions, (Cowlitz County Code
Chapter 18.34), large lot subdivisions (Chapter 18.38), rural
subdivisions (Chapter 18.50), urban subdivisions (Chapter 18.32), and
planned unit developments (Chapter 18.30). Applications for all
subdivisions are reviewed and processed though the Planning Division.
More |
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Shoreline
Management Act |
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Cowlitz County has a number of rivers and
streams and several lakes. The Cowlitz County Department of Building and
Planning is the lead agency for local shoreline permits along these
bodies of water under the State of Washington's Shoreline Management Act
(SMA), codified as
RCW 90.58. Requests for development permits are reviewed under the
criteria established by the SMA through the Cowlitz County Shoreline
Master program, adopted in 1977, and through the authority of Chapter
19.20 of the Cowlitz County Code. More. |
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State Environmental
Policy Act (SEPA) |
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County review under the Washington State
Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) is required for certain development
permits and other County actions, such as ordinance development. These
requirements are set forth in Chapter 19.11 of the Cowlitz County Code.
More. |
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Private
Roads Private
Road Ordinance (pdf)
UPDATE IN PROCESS!
View Draft |
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SEPA
review in process for updating of the Private Road Ordinance.
Please provide comments by September
8, 2009
County standards for private roads are set
forth in Chapter 11.36 of the Cowlitz County Code. A private road is
defined as serving three or more lots. All private roads being newly constructed or modified must meet or
exceed these minimum standards. The standards are also triggered when
any property served by a private road is subdivided. The code
establishes three type of private roads and minimum standards for each:
- Type C Roads serve nine or fewer
lots;
- Type B Roads serve 10 to 19 lots;
- Type A Roads serve 20 to 50 lots.
You may view the entire Private Road
Ordinance by clicking here.
Please contact Mike
Wojtowicz in
the Planning Division with any questions you may have regarding Private
Roads. |
