{"id":9086,"date":"2025-10-16T15:37:26","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T22:37:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/underwoodcommunity.org\/wp-ucc\/?p=9086"},"modified":"2025-10-21T08:41:48","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T15:41:48","slug":"unmapped-lands-underwood-wa-skamania-public-hearing-summary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/underwoodcommunity.org\/wp-ucc\/unmapped-lands-underwood-wa-skamania-public-hearing-summary\/","title":{"rendered":"Public Hearing Event Recap: Unmapped Lands in Underwood"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Summary: Public Hearing for Unmapped Lands<\/span><\/h1><\/span>
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\nAt the public hearing on October 7, 2025, the Skamania County Planning Commission<\/a> voted to recommend Option One<\/i> to the <\/span>Skamania County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC)<\/a> for zoning unmapped lands in Underwood. This recommendation included a combination of two zoning designations: residential 10-acre (R10) and commercial (CRL-40).<\/span> Five commissioners (Ken Bajema, Ray Broughton, Anita Gahimer Crow, Ann Birkenfeld Leuders, and Michael Wilber) voted in favor of Option One. Two commissioners (Sarah Perry and Paul Hendricks) voted in favor of Option Four. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Public Feedback<\/h1><\/div>

A total of 65 written and spoken comments were received. 11% of the public were in favor of Option 1, which supports property rights by granting Broughton Lumber\u2019s zoning request. The majority of feedback opposed residential zoning, with nearly 70% of commenters favoring Option 4 and\/or generally opposing residential zoning in the area, citing concerns about protecting forest resource lands, maintaining rural character, extreme fire danger, and Underwood\u2019s limited water resources.<\/p>\n

Overall, public sentiment favored ongoing community interest in protecting forest resource lands in Skamania County and maintaining the area’s rural character.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Summary of Options Considered<\/h1><\/div>

The Planning Commission initially considered various zoning options for unmapped parcels in Underwood. Community members interested in learning more about the options originally considered can find additional<\/a><\/span> information here<\/a>. During October’s public hearing, the planning commission considered only the following:<\/p>\n

OPTION ONE<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/b>This is the option that the Planning Commission recommended to the BOCC. It designates most of the land for resource or forestry use (CRL-40) but allows some areas\u2014specifically two parcels totaling 285.55 acres\u2014to be zoned Residential 10 (R-10).<\/span><\/p>\n