During the Toledo community’s annual “Big Meeting” on Thursday night, planning commission appointees and elected officials will unveil a plan by local company Red Rock Construction LLC for a 97-plot housing development southwest of Plomodon and Toledo-Vader roads.
Named “Cowlitz Meadows,” ground-breaking on the project isn’t set to take place in the next year, but the company has reportedly entered a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) application. Through the SEPA process, the plan is subject to change.
Red Rock Construction also built Grand Prairie Estates, a housing development in Winlock, two phases of which have already been completed and sold. Future houses are still set for the area, according to the company’s website.
If approved, the full build-out of the Cowlitz Meadows development won’t all come at once either, according to Toledo Mayor Pro-tem Eric Hayes, but should take place over about five years.
As Winlock has seen major growth in recent years, Hayes said this plan represents an opportunity for Toledo to not get left behind. Still, the growth must be done responsibly, Hayes said, which is why the city has hired a planning consultant.
“It's about making sure that homes go in in a responsible way so that we create good living conditions for our future residents,” Hayes said. “Toledo’s been pretty stagnant for a long time and we could use a little bit of growth.”
The large development also presents opportunities for the municipality and other taxing districts such as the Toledo School District, Hayes said. While plans aren’t official, the school district is considering charging impact fees on the construction to offset costs of additional students who might come into the area for the housing.
In a Monday morning meeting with the county commissioners, Lewis County Community Development Director Lee Napier said she’s working with the school district this week to determine the feasibility of that plan, which is within the district’s right. After its bond measure failed in February, the fees could represent an opportunity for the schools to make capital improvements without the full burden falling on the taxpayers.
By the end of the year, Hayes said the city hopes it will have annexed land toward Interstate 5, at the request of various landowners who desire the city’s services. In line with state growth guidelines, the city will then have to expand its urban growth area or UGA, where it can eye future expansion.
Because the state Route 505 bridge over the Cowlitz River is not equipped with conduits for water or sewer, Hayes said expansion to the east is not being considered. He also felt the community would like to preserve the prairie’s beauty in that direction.
Expansion toward I-5 also represents more economic opportunities, Hayes said. Winlock, for example, has seen more young families living in the new housing units, whether they then commute to the Twin Cities, work remotely or stay in South Lewis County.
“(Toledo) is a wonderful place to live. I think we know we’re a little jewel. That’s part of why growing really fast isn't what we want to do,” Hayes said. “The big communication is, really, you have to grow some. It’s very similar to, ‘I’m not ever going to paint my house because I don’t want it to change.’ Well, eventually your house will rot. At some point, you need to grow a little.”
