Winlock site selected as new proposed home for equestrian center
Wednesday, September 10, 2008 8:18 PM PDT
By Erik Olson
Printable version
E-mail this articleThe new preferred site for a proposed Lewis County horse arena is within the Winlock city limits, about a mile west of Exit 63 on Interstate 5, said Larry Hewitt, project manager for the Southwest Washington Regional Equestrian Center on Wednesday.
The property is owned by Gerald Corey, who lives on the 40-acre parcel, according to Lewis County property records.
Corey has an unlisted number and could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
The county’s Public Facilities District had been looking for a new location for the arena since environmental and zoning issues arose with the original site owned by Chehalis developer Phil Smith and located just across Interstate 5.
About five or six sites had been considered, but the PFD board members voted to authorize a sales agreement with the land owner Tuesday, Hewitt said.
The 2007 Legislature approved about $8 million in public funding for the REQ Center, which is expected to cost between $55 million and $70 million. However, the project must break ground before Jan. 1, 2011 to receive the funding.
Smith’s property was not zoned for commercial use, and REQ Center backers were concerned that changing the zoning would take too long and jeopardize the state funding. Also, Smith was fined $232,000 by the state Department of Ecology for failing to obtain permits to clear his 190 acres, and the federal Environmental Protection Agency ordered him to restore the wetlands he disturbed along salmon-bearing Lacamas Creek.
The new site is not without its issues. It’s much smaller than Smith’s property, and it’s not zoned for commercial use either.
However, Hewitt said the Winlock City Council is discussing the zone change. Winlock Mayor Cy Meyers was also one of the first supporters of the REQ Center.
The new preferred site has forced the REQ Center to look for more private funding because Smith is no longer a financial backer, Hewitt said. Also, the group will look to purchase other land in the area to accommodate a possible hotel, restaurant and other potential developments surrounding the horse arena, he said.
Related article:
Equestrian center backers seek new site (Sept. 9)
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