The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Proponents of Wahkiakum County sponsored housing development project have begun presenting their plans in meetings across the county.

Officials from Wahkiakum County's Department of Health and Human Services described the project to the Cathlamet Town Council on Monday.

Project leader Chris Holmes said more meetings will be scheduled in the Westend and in the Cathlamet area to present the project to the community.

The project got going in 2002 with passage of the state Affordable Housing Bill, which created a way for entities to collect fees "expressly aimed at increasing the stock of safe, affordable housing for the very low income population, with a particular focus on the disabled," Holmes said. The goal of the project, he said, is to help people stay in the county.

The county has accumulated enough money to purchase land, he said. A Housing Advisory Committee has considered parcels across the county and settled on a piece in Cathlamet adjacent to the Glengate development. The county has negotiated a purchase agreement with the owner; a 60-day feasibility study is underway.

Holmes said factors that went into the site selection included being close to transit, town, schools and services; having a safe location; having a suitable price and size, and being suitable for mixed sorts of housing.

"We want to make sure this is the quality development that this county needs," Holmes said.

Housing needs have changed, said Health and Human Services Director Sue Cameron. In the past, it was single people who needed housing. Now, with he stale economy, families, with employed adults, need housing, she said.

Holmes said the committee envisions a mixed housing model for the development.

They plan to work with the Longview Housing Authority (LHA) and the Lower Columbia Community Action Program (CAP), which offer different housing programs that help people build and/or purchase starter homes. The occupants build equity in the houses, and the houses remain on the tax roles, he said.

The development might include construction programs offered by Habitat for Humanities, said Cameron. All carefully screen participants.

The project will also include some four-plex apartment units, Holmes said.

All the different structures fit the town's zoning, Holmes said, and the development should improve infrastructure in the neighborhood.

Councilmembers indicated they liked the proposed program, but they did have some questions and concerns.

"That area used to be a great duck pond," said Councilmember Wally Wright.

Holmes responded that they've hired a consultant to do an environmental assessment of the parcel to identify potential issues such as drainage.

Councilmember Dick Swart asked if the town would have to take over access roads.

Holmes responded that the project would be separate from the Glengate development, which has some issues with an unfinished street.

"If there's a way by doing this development piece that we can help solve some of these other pieces, we're more than happy to look at that in terms of the grants that we go after, and how we structure them, and which partners we bring on board," Chris Holmes said. "So, we really see this as being good neighbors."

The next presentation will be before the county commissioners on July 9; other presentations are being scheduled.