Land Use Application

Applicant(s): Property Owner(s):

Charles and Valerie Fowler Charles and Valerie Fowler

Mailing Address: 381 Old Hwy 8, Lyle WAWA WAWAWA98635

Mailing Address: same

Phone: 206-372-4881 (Charles)

Phone: 509-250-0749 (Valerie)

Email: cwfsleddog@aol.com

Email: Valerie.c.fowler@gmail.com

Location of property: Township: 3 North

Range: 12 East

Parcel address: 381 Old Hwy 8, Lyle, WA

Section & Qtr. Section: 30

County: Klickitat

Tax Lot No(s).: 03-12-3000-0004/00

Parcel Size (acres): 55.95

Existing use of parcel: Vineyard, Pasture

Use of adjacent parcels: Pasture

Project description: We propose to expand the current pole barn on our property to enable the winter sheltering of a flock of sheep as well as to store additional hay and alfalfa for winter consumption by the animals. This proposal directly supports the primary purpose of agriculture on our active 56 acre ranch. We plan to extend the current barn roof to the north by 10 feet (expansion of 300 sq ft), taking advantage of the existing support beams that mark the perimeter of the current corral. This expansion is necessary as we need to use the confines of the current barn to provide warmth and shelter to our flock of sheep during the very cold winter months; additionally, the new small expansion area will be used to separate pregnant ewes from the rest of the sheep and allow the ewes and new lambs to be warmed by heat lamps after they are born in February and March each year. This 300 sq ft expansion will enable us to construct four lamb birthing areas immediately under this expansion area. We additionally propose to expand the barn 9 feet to the east (expansion of 207 sq. ft) to store hay and alfalfa bales to feed the flock during the winter.

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The existing 24’ x 36’ pole barn was approved by the Columbia River Gorge Commission in 1999 and was constructed by the previous owner John Sauter. One of the conditions of approval for the construction of the pole barn was for the owner to plant 10 Douglas fir trees to create a dense screen to hide the barn from all KVAs. These trees are now 40 to 50 feet tall and will effectively screen the proposed expansion from all KVAs. No trees, shrubs, or agricultural land will be removed or affected by this expansion as it remains within the existing corral. The inclusion of the flock of sheep is an integral part of the long-range agricultural plan that we submitted to Klickitat County when we planted our organic vineyard in 2018. The sheep provide numerous benefits to the vineyard including: 1) the addition of urea and organics to the soil in the vineyard and neighboring paddocks; 2) by eating weeds between the vines and rows, the sheep reduce the amount of organic weed spraying typical used to control weeds; 3) the sheep reduce the amount of compaction of the soil caused by heavy tractors when mowing the cover crop; 4) and the sheep will eat the small shoots or suckers that grapevines typically put out in the spring and must be removed for optimal vine health. The sheep are in a sense mini lawn mowers, and are too small in stature to reach the grapes growing in the fruit zone of the grapevines. Moreover, our flock of Old English South Down “baby doll” sheep will produce wool each year that is the same quality as fine Merino wool, an additional agricultural product for our ranch. To help maintain the scenic quality of the landscape, we will use the approved dark paint color (Old English Ivy dark green) that was approved for the replacement house earlier in 2020. Both small extensions will be constructed using wood siding and a matte paint on the metal roof to ensure minimal reflectivity. There will not be any external lighting added to the barn as part of this proposal. Details of the expanded barn and site plan are included in this submission (see attached figures). The proposed site was screened for cultural and archaeological resources as part of the previous approved vineyard project and, with the exception of a stacked rock wall built in the 1930s, nothing was discovered. The 2018 survey of this rock wall by AINW and subsequent recommendation that it does not meet the criteria for inclusion on the National Historical Register was submitted to the Columbia River Gorge Commission for review. The mitigation plans approved by the Columbia River Gorge Commission as part of our vineyard project for enhancing wildlife game trails and the planting of native plants/shrubs and forbs are not affected by this proposal. The deer fence that was approved to go around the barn to protect the smaller vineyard block will be constructed this fall/winter and will help protect our sheep from predator animals. A smaller (internal) sheep fence will encircle the existing corral area to create a second screen of fencing. This proposed expansion will not impact recreational activities or natural resources in the area. Legal description of property: Southeast quarter of Section 30, Township 3 North, Range 12 East of the Willamette Meridian in the County of Klickitat, Washington. Address: 381 Old Highway 8, Lyle, WA 98635. Land Classification under Chapter 84.34: Farm and agricultural land. Zoning: General Rural. The property is located in the Special Management Area of the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area.

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Site plan

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Site plan

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Key Viewing Areas:

Key viewing areas are important public viewpoints and areas that afford opportunities to view the Gorge scenery. Key viewing areas are listed below. Please check those sites which can be seen from your property:

□ Historic Columbia River Highway

□ Old Highway 8 (County Road 1230)

□ Highway I-84

□ Washington State Route 142

□ Washington State Route 14

□ Washington State Route 141

□ Panorama Point Park

□ Columbia River

□ Rowena Plateau and Nature Conservancy Viewpoint

□ Cook-Underwood Road

If your project would be visible from one or more key viewing areas, then you must submit elevation drawings and landscaping details. Elevation drawings must show the sides of proposed buildings which would be visible from key viewing areas, including:

□ the appearance of proposed buildings over 400 square feet in size

□ surrounding final grades

Landscape details must show how your project will be screened from key viewing areas, including:

□ location of plants used

□ number of plants

□ size of plants

□ type of plants

□ irrigation provisions or other measures to ensure the survival of landscaping planted for screening purposes

□ location of existing and proposed topographical features which would screen your project.

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South Elevation

East Elevation

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Adjacent property owners

Township, Range, Section, Tax Lot Number Name, Address, and E-mail (if possible)

Dave Sauter

367 Old Hwy 8, Lyle, WA

daves@klickitatcounty.org