For a few Battle Ground community members, new residential and commercial developments underway without key road and pedestrian infrastructure improvements to improve connectivity are their biggest gripe in the first Community Focus article of the year.
“What are your biggest concerns in and around Battle Ground right now?” Was the question asked in a Facebook post by Reflector reporter Cade Barker on a couple of Battle Ground-centric community groups. The question further asks if school funding, code enforcement, city council, traffic and road projects, etc … is what takes the cake.
“Growth with no infrastructure,” one comment stated.
That comment added to a trend that a few community members expanded upon via emails. Also, code enforcement took a big blow.
But first, road and pedestrian traffic improvements. When a residential or commercial development takes place, frontage improvements often come with it. But between new developments, residents often end up on narrow rural roads with no sidewalks — a sign that yesteryear's infrastructure is not keeping up with today’s growth.
One example of this would be North Parkway Avenue where newer residential developments have brought an improved roadway and sidewalks directly on the project’s frontage. But for residents who may want to make the trek south to the commercial centers of the city, they will have to walk along stretches of roadway with zero sidewalk still.
“Response to speed and hazard issues are not always addressed,” Battle Ground resident Dick Rylander emailed.
Rylander also stated that roads are narrow, road repair liabilities are north of $20 million and growing, as well, and parking spaces are inadequate.
“I am retired, 66 years old, and have lived here for 11 years now,” emailed Eva Turner, of Battle Ground. “Lots has changed. Lots of new developments, single-family homes, apartment buildings, and no real improvement to infrastructure. Hence, road improvements, stop signs, roundabouts.”
Rylander’s email also focused on changes to the literal direction of growth, urban growth boundaries, and the foregoing of taxes for developments.
“Giving away taxes to support development is wrong,” Rylander stated. “Growth west on (state Route) 502 is the focus versus the old plan of going south on (state Route) 503.”
Rylander also added that the Windsong Acres development, which is near Space Age Fuel at State Route 503 and Southwest 40th Street, is in the urban growth boundary for Battle Ground but is in unincorporated Clark County.
“We've petitioned the past city councils to remove us but they claim to need every acre even if they also admit they don't want the costs,” Rylander stated.
Rylander continued that Battle Ground has a “history of wanting to be a major city in north county.”
“People want a shopping hub that supports a rural lifestyle,” Rylander stated. The target planned density is 16 units per acre, which is contrary to a rural lifestyle. The city needs to focus on quality of life. That means core services and rapid review and approval of projects.”
For Battle Ground resident Kathy Coffland, code enforcement and the RV, boat and trailer parking debacle wound up being her biggest concern, which was echoed in a couple of comments on Facebook, too.
“I am very concerned about the penalty assessed on individuals for parking their RV in their driveway,” Coffland stated in an email. “Let me be clear - parking personally owned property (an RV, boat, or utility trailer) on privately owned property for which we pay property tax. Many Battle Ground home lots do not have drive-through access for RV parking behind the home. Therefore, many tax-paying citizens park their RV, boat or utility trailer in their private driveway, maintaining access to the sidewalk for pedestrians.”
The Battle Ground city council has been examining the code and appears to be leaning towards a change of code to allow parking a recreational vehicle, boat or trailer on one’s property in one way or another. The Battle Ground City Council unanimously voted Monday, March 2, to set a public hearing on proposed changes to the city’s rules for recreational vehicle, trailer and boat storage in residential districts. The public hearing is scheduled for Monday, April 6.
“Battle Ground Code Enforcement drives around, and penalizes (tickets) homeowners for parking their personal property on their privately owned real estate,” Coffland continued. “This is a revenue source for Battle Ground at the expense of the constituents. The city council is currently researching this, but informed journalism may assist in righting this wrong.”
Turner’s email also brought forth concerns of a lack of diversity in the business world.
“This town is very conservative and appears to only want to attract businesses that follow the same direction,” Turner stated. “The city council also appears to only cater to businesses that want to purchase property after property for their own interests. This is not diversity! Said this, I am very concerned (about) the direction this town is headed towards.”
Rylander’s email addressed the topic of the city council being a concern in contrast to Turner’s email.
“The new council will do a better job of representing the public and the majority's values,” Rylander stated.
The majority of Facebook comments were not in complete sentences, touched on issues outside of Battle Ground’s control — like state highways and roads in unincorporated Clark County.
Comments also did not provide a full name and general area of residence — a rule that has historically not been followed for community-focused comments used in the article. That rule follows suit with submission rules for letters to the editor to ensure the person is real.
