A Seattle web pioneer’s planned Kalama area nature camp has cleared a significant land-use hurdle after his proposal was granted preliminary approval from a local quasi-judicial official — despite concerns raised about the area’s remote, log-truck heavy location.
Cowlitz County Hearings Examiner Mark C. Scheibmeir largely approved plans to green light transforming a roughly 25-acre section of rural riverfront property into a private campground near Kalama to be known as Wandering River Retreat. His decision last month followed heavy scrutiny and numerous written and spoken comments between September and December.
The project, being developed by Jeremy Irish of Seattle, seeks to transform riverfront rural property at 4311 Kalama River Rd. into a 37-site private campground…