The Woodland City Council has denied a possible change to its comprehensive growth plan that would see industrial land rezoned to high-density residential in order to put an apartment complex on the city’s west side.
The council voted 6-0 to deny the change, with Councilor Carol Rounds absent. The change in question would allow for the development of a planned apartment complex at the corner of Glenwood and Columbia streets.
Steve Kay, with Cascadia Planning and Development Services representing Corporate Financial Solutions, the owner of the parcel, explained that the company had acquired the land in May 2017 after its previous owner, who was planning on building a community pool, found that project unfeasible.
Amending the comprehensive plan and zoning map from industrial to residential for that parcel “ensures that the existing residents in this neighborhood are protected from conflicting land uses,” Kay said. A switch from industrial to high-density residential would be consistent with the existing land use pattern, he argued.
Kay also addressed the land needs of the city, mentioning that adjacent multifamily developments were fully occupied and that several dozen to more than 300 individuals are waiting for units to open up.
Regarding available industrial land, Kay said that according to the city’s comprehensive plan there were 548 acres of undeveloped industrial land and 100 acres of partially developed land in Woodland. The city’s 20-year need was only 452 acres.
The plan also stressed that there was a deficit in housing availability, identifying a need for 25 acres of residential land in the 20-year outlook with 10 for high-density residential such as what the proposed change would entail.
Arguing against the change was Jamie Housley, an attorney representing Truck Stops Inc., who was in opposition of the request. He mentioned that the 20-year vision in the comprehensive plan was only two years old, having been adopted in 2016.
Housley said that under the city’s comprehensive plan the change in zoning from industrial to residential would be under higher scrutiny than other changes. He mentioned that Woodland, which has land in both Cowlitz and Clark counties, has agreed to follow Clark County planning, which maintains a no net loss policy for industrial land, with conversions limited to specific situations he did not feel applicable.
Ultimately the council sided with Housley and the testimony of other citizens who were against the change. Councilor Benjamin Fredricks moved to deny the change, saying that after extensive review the applicant had not met the burden of proof that the change was justified.
Councilor Dave Plaza, who joined the board in January, said he came in with an open mind regarding the proposed change, but indicated concerns when it came to traffic and parking resulting from the addition of an apartment complex.
