Council ok's road agreement for plant

Members of the Cathlamet Town Council addressed issues ranging from waste water plant road plans to revising the zoning ordinance at their June 16 meeting.

The council approved a revised agreement negotiated with the Wahkiakum School District for an access road to the planned waste water treatment plant in the district's Farm Forest.

Mayor Dick Swart said the alignment wasn't what the town wanted but it was what could be negotiated. The school directors had wanted the road away from the Farm Forest access road, but the town's consulting engineers said the grade and terrain were unsuitable in other locations.

The district board of directors was set to approve the deal at their meeting last night (Wednesday).

The council hopes to see preliminary designs of the treatment plant in August.

In other business:

--Planning Commission respresentative Fred Johnson discussed the commission's proposed changes to the town zoning ordinance. The commission worked on the ordinance for over two years, he said, updating out of date terms and standards, and bringing it in line with current uses and potential development. It is so different that it would be better to consider the new ordinance in its entirety and not try to make line by line comparisons with the old one, he said.

Among the changes, the new ordinance would allow residential uses in commercial and industrial zones; existing mixed residential use areas would be permitted, and single residential use areas would be limited to Messinger Hill and areas that might be annexed in the future.

Councilmen discussed the ordinance's hedge and fence standards; Johnson said the planners' prime concern in setting heights and setbacks was to ensure safety for drivers and pedestrians.

Also, home occupations and business would be allowed in residential areas under conditions.

Swart said further discussion will take place in July, and public meetings will be scheduled.

--Public Works Supervisor David Vik reported a lightning strike had knocked out, eqpuipment at the Greenwood Hill water reservoir, but crews are able to operate the system manually, so there is no threat to the water system.

New parts are on order and should be installed soon, he said.

--The council tabled action on approval of a four-lot short plat for Todd Nicholson and Marina Estates.

The planning commission had reviewed the application and recommended approval.

Councilmembers were leery, however, because there was no checklist to show that the applicant met platting requirements.

Councilmembers said they would gather sample checklists from other jurisdictions and create one for the town, which has traditionally had almost no short plat applications.