Application for levee and streambank stabilization improvements in Walla Walla County.

CAP25-21 SEPA25-16
NOTICE OF APPLICATION/ODNS
 
Notice is hereby given on this date, 4/2/2026, that the application/proposal described in this notice has been filed with the Walla Walla County Community Development Department (CDD) or online (click here). The application/proposal may be reviewed at the CDD office at 310 W Poplar Street, Suite 200, Walla Walla, WA 99362. All interested people and parties may comment on the application. Appeal rights are outlined in Walla Walla County Code (WWCC) Chapter 14.11.
 
The Department is using the optional threshold determination process under the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) authorized by Washington Administrative Code 197-11-355. The application comment period may be the only opportunity to comment on the environmental impacts of the proposal. A copy of the SEPA determination on the proposal may be obtained upon request. The proposal may include mitigation measures under applicable codes, and the project review process may incorporate or require mitigation measures regardless of whether an environmental impact statement is prepared. The SEPA Responsible Official has preliminarily determined that the proposal is:
[   ] categorically exempt under SEPA
[X] subject to SEPA threshold determination requirements and the responsible official expects to issue the following determination: Determination of Non-Significance (DNS).
 
The following identified existing environmental documents are hereby incorporated by reference, and all or part of the documents may be used to evaluate the application/proposal:
• State Environmental Policy Act Checklist, SEPA25-16, dated March 25, 2026, prepared by Jon Gulliver.
• Walla Walla County Environmental Permit Application, dated October 13, 2025.
• Levee design, prepared by applicant, submitted August 4, 2025.
• Critical Areas Report, prepared by APEX Companies, dated January 2026, including the following Appendices:
o Appendix A, Maps and Reports.
o Appendix B, Site Photos.
o Appendix C, Engineered Designs and Technical Memorandum on Design.
o United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Checklist for Documentation Requirements, Dike and Levee.
o United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Forestry Technical Note No. MT-25, Improving the Establishment of Willow Cuttings in Riparian Areas.
o Cottonwood Creek Levee Setback and Reconstruction Planting Plan, Prepared by APEX Companies and the Walla Walla County Conservation District, undated.
• Walla Walla County Final Integrated Comprehensive Plan and EIS adopted December 17, 2007.
• Walla Walla County Comprehensive Plan adopted August 5, 2019.
 
These documents are located at the office of the CDD at 310 W. Poplar Street, Suite 200, Walla Walla, WA, and shall be made available for public review during all applicable comment periods on the application/proposal. Preliminary determinations and information contained herein shall not bind the County and are subject to continuing review and modification.
1. Applicant: Jon Gulliver, 432 Healey Dr, Walla Walla, WA, 99362
2. Property Owner: The Vines Lot 20, LLC, 963 SW Simpson Ave, Suite 110, Bend, OR 97702
3. Application filing date: 8/4/2025
4. Date that application was determined to be substantially complete: 9/2/2025
5. Location: West of Powerline Road and South of Cottonwood Creek, within NW 1/4 Section 9, Township 6 North, Range 36 East, Willamette Meridian, Walla Walla County, Washington.
6. Description of proposed action: Levee and streambank stabilization improvements to address flood risk and bank erosion on a section of Cottonwood Creek approximately 200 feet long.
7. Zoning map designation for the location: Agriculture Residential 10.
8. Comprehensive plan land use designation for the location: Agriculture Residential.
9. Shoreline Environment: Not applicable.
10. Required Permits: Critical Areas Permit Application and Grading Building Permit.
11. Development Regulations: Walla Walla County Code Title 15 – Buildings and Construction and Title 18 – Environment.
12. Comments on this application must be submitted in writing to the CDD at 310 W. Poplar Street, Suite 200, Walla Walla, WA 99362 or planning@wwcowa.gov. Any person desiring to submit written comments concerning an application or desiring to receive notification of the final decision concerning the proposal as expeditiously as possible after the issuance of decision, may submit the comments or requests for decisions to the department within fourteen days following the date of final publication of this notice of application. Comments must be received by the CDD before 5 PM on the following date: 4/16/2026.
13. A public hearing will not be held on this proposal.
14. The decision on this application will be made by the Walla Walla County CDD Director.
15. The Director's decision may be appealed by the applicant(s) or parties of record to the Walla Walla County Hearing Examiner pursuant to WWCC 14.11.010 and 14.11.030.
 
For additional information please contact Don Sims, Associate Planner, at 509-524-2610, planning@wwcowa.gov, or 310 W. Poplar Street, Suite 200, Walla Walla, WA 99362.
 
This Notice of Application is required by Revised Code of Washington 36.70B.110 and WWCC 14.07.080.
 
(112349) April 2, 2026