The Mossyrock City Council convened for its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, July 16, to discuss a number of agenda items, including entering an interlocal agreement with Lewis County concerning urban growth area (UGA) management.
Additionally, the creation of Mossyrock’s climate policy was discussed.
During public comment, the owners of Barbs Hawaiian Shaved Ice raised concerns about fireworks being set off within city limits as they recently had to repair damage done to both their mobile shaved ice truck and restaurant currently under construction in Mossyrock because of fireworks damage.
And while the Mossyrock Planning Commission did meet earlier in the month, Mossyrock Planning Commission Chair Marcia Manley explained they still took no voting action on any items and simply held a discussion.
“We only had two members, which does constitute a quorum, but I just feel uncomfortable (with just) two people making some major decisions,” Manley said.
Currently, the planning commission has three members, but can have up to seven total. Manley is looking for at least two more members.
The Mossyrock Planning Commission meets on the second Monday of every month at 5:30 p.m. at the Mossyrock Community Center, located at 219 E. State St. in Mossyrock. Commission members review, discuss and make recommendations to the city council pertaining to development proposals, zoning issues and long-range planning projects.
Those interested in serving must live within the 98546 ZIP code in the Mossyrock area. Applicants can submit a letter of interest at Mossyrock City Hall, located at 231 E. State St. in Mossyrock.
Consideration of UGA interlocal agreement, climate policy update
As Lewis County staff close in on the end of the county’s comprehensive plan update, they are also asking municipalities around the county to choose one of two zoning options for their UGAs — with the first being RD5, or rural development with one dwelling unit allowed per five acres with the county continuing to manage the land.
The second option is to enter an interlocal agreement (ILA) with the county.
“The county will adopt by reference, your zoning designations for that area, and your development regulations for that area,” Lewis County Community Development Director Mindy Brooks said to the council. “That way, the people who own those parcels can continue to develop them at an urban density even though annexation has not occurred.”
She added the county has added limits to that option as until a municipality actually takes ownership of a UGA through annexation, county staff cannot transfer road ownership to the city, meaning creating infrastructure for UGA developments can be challenging.
“So we are putting limits in option two around what subdivisions will be allowed,” Brooks said.
Proposed subdivision developments with five or more lots will require each lot to be at least two acres in size.
“We don’t want to see large subdivisions that call for infrastructure that the county cannot maintain,” said Brooks. “... And we won’t give you guys kennels or marijuana.”
The proposed regulations do have less stringent requirements for smaller subdivision developments.
As for which option the city council was going to choose, Mossyrock Mayor Randall Sasser explained with councilors missing, he wanted to hold a workshop to further discuss the matter this week on Wednesday, July 23, at the Mossyrock Community Center.
Brooks said the county is expecting decisions from local city governments by October, and added the zoning can be changed in the future still.
Also during the meeting, the council discussed the possibility of creating a climate policy, as that was one item discussed during the Mossyrock Planning Commission meeting.
At the meeting, a county official provided planning commission members with documents pertaining to the climate change policies being implemented into the updated comprehensive plan.
“Mossyrock, as a small town, does not require a comprehensive (plan) climate element, but we just need to think about what would climate change cause,” Manley said. “I think everybody can agree, our weather is changing … We are having more wildfires, it is drier and hotter in the summer, our springs seem to be a little longer.”
While flooding is an ever-present danger in Lewis County, the rise in frequency and intensity of wildfires also means residents may routinely have to deal with air quality issues in the future, too.
Sasser proposed adopting some sort of climate policy.
“Some really simple verbiage would satisfy so the state doesn’t have to come knocking down doors,” Sasser said.
Manley stated they looked at the City of Morton’s climate policy — which is part of its own comprehensive plan — as a possible reference for creating their own, as a climate policy can also help with grant applications. A draft may be brought forward at a future council meeting.
Fireworks concerns
While the Fourth of July holiday passed several weeks back, a pair of local business owners voiced concerns about fireworks.
Gary and Barbara Colvin, who own Barbs Hawaiian Shaved Ice, said their other restaurant project currently under construction in downtown Mossyrock has been damaged by holiday celebratory explosions for two years running.
“With the burn ban on, they’re not supposed to be lighting them off anyway,” Gary said.
A sealing finish for the concrete floor had to be redone along with insulating membranes in the kitchen’s ceiling.
“We have to do something, whether it’s ban fireworks within city limits, or ban them off the street. But even then they’re going to shoot them off in their yard and maybe start a fire in their neighbor’s house,” Gary said. “I get that it’s exciting to see all the colors and the bangs and all that, but I can’t afford to keep repairing my building because people want to shoot off fireworks … As you guys know, it’s expensive to build. And Barb and I, right now, have over $300,000 in that building, and I have probably another $300,000 to go to get it open.”
He asked the council to consider banning setting off fireworks within city limits as is the case in the City of Morton, or to think of some other compromise to help protect local businesses.
“I don’t know exactly what the answer is, but seriously I’m thinking, if nothing gets done, I don’t know, because I can’t afford to keep repairing my building every year,” Gary said.
He added this year he had it on good authority that those who were launching the fireworks off had also been drinking.
While already operating a shaved Hawaiian ice truck business, Gary and Barbara are currently working on opening a new barbecue and pizza restaurant featuring wood pellet-fired smokers and pizza ovens.
Sasser told him the council will look into possible solutions.
