Warm Beach Camp considers future vision

Warm Beach Christian Camps and Conference Center is taking steps to revise and update their conditional use permit for submittal to the Snohomish County Planning Department.

As part of the process, members of the camp’s board and staff are working with the Warm Beach Stewards on proposed expansion plans.

Minimizing environmental impacts is high on the list of priorities, said Patrick Patterson, director of administration for the camp.

“We have a strong desire to work together on a site plan,” he said. “We want our neighbors to feel confident in our planning so we can present an application to the county that has the support of the community.”

As such, a community meeting is scheduled today, May 25, at 7 p.m. in the Cedar Lodge at Warm Beach Camp. The purpose of the meeting is to inform the public about the expansion projects and changes to facilities being proposed, including a presentation from environmental impact consultants working on the project endorsed by the Warm Beach Stewards. The bulk of the meeting will follow a question and answer format driven by audience participation, said Patterson.

The camp is in the phase of collecting input, he said. All the necessary studies, from traffic to drainage, to habitat management and wetland delineation, are being conducted to conform with county regulations.

Due diligence to address environmental issues coincides with the camp’s vision to provide natural setting for visitors, said Patterson.

The updated site plan includes remodeling of Cedar Lodge, as well as new construction including smaller lodges, an indoor pool and a gym. Other ideas include providing private bathrooms for existing cabins, creating an indoor horse riding arena, reconfiguring the recreational vehicle lots, building a performing arts center and developing new open green spaces and athletic fields.

“It’s long-term planning,” said Patterson. “We’re not going to experience any rapid changes.”

He noted that individual projects, when and if they occur, are subject to specific county permits.

The final site plan is a way to get a sense of how the camp may look in the future.

“Because the county asked us for the plan, we discussed what would be the best end result,” said Patterson. “We call it our 30-year plan.”

Currently, the camp’s roads, sidewalks, buildings and parking lots take up 8.7 percent of the property.

“The county allows up to 35 percent,” said Patterson. “The proposal would expand our footprint to 12 percent.”

The growth is slight, he said, and the camp would be able to serve more people in a more efficient manner.

At this point, nothing in the proposal is set in stone.

“During the planning stages,” said Patterson, “we are working to feel strongly united with the community.”

“All indications are showing the process is proceeding in that direction,” he added.

For more information, visit www.warmbeach.com or call 360-652-7575.

Staff Reporter Adam Stewart: 629-8066 ext. 115 or astewart@scnews.com.