Plans for a new housing development in Vader, Washington, have taken a significant step forward after the Vader City Council approved a rezoning request from residents Anthony and Courtney Hendrickson during their first regular meeting of 2026 on January 7. The decision came after multiple closed record public hearings, where council member Mike Parsons recused himself due to a conflict of interest; his wife serves on the Vader Planning Committee, which had recommended the approval.
The Hendricksons’ request involves changing the zoning of adjacent parcels located on D Street, extending from the road’s end to the bank of Olequa Creek. Initially zoned as single residential (R-1), the area is now set to be designated as a planned unit development (PUD). According to the staff hearing summary presented to the council, the developer plans to subdivide the land into nine lots for eight single-family homes, with one existing residence remaining on one of the proposed lots.
Council Meeting Highlights
During the same meeting, Jason Dailey was reappointed as the city’s mayor pro tem. Joe Schey, the mayor of Vader, also announced that the Lewis County officials had submitted the city’s Water Utility Action Plan to the Washington State Department of Health for final review. If approved, this plan will allow Lewis County to transfer control of the water system back to the city’s public works staff. Since 2010, Lewis County has managed Vader’s water system following a court order due to the city’s financial difficulties. This situation had previously resulted in 17 boil water advisories between 2006 and 2010.
The Hendricksons’ rezoning proposal also includes plans for improvements adjacent to their development. James Eager, the Vader City Planner, mentioned that the couple intends to enhance a neighboring parcel, where a new park is planned. Rather than developing the property as a park, the applicants have opted to construct a parking lot on city-owned land tentatively referred to as “Park Street Park.”
Additional improvements proposed by the Hendricksons include paving part of E Street, which runs alongside their planned housing development.
Next Steps for the Community
Following the closed record public hearing, where both the public and press were excluded from deliberations, the council reconvened and voted to approve the rezoning request. All relevant documents concerning the Hendricksons’ request, including the staff hearing summary and traffic study, are available online at http://tinyurl.com/vader-202311.
The next regular meeting of the Vader City Council is scheduled for 6 p.m. on January 21, 2026, at Vader City Hall. This development marks a pivotal moment for the small South Lewis County community as it seeks to address housing needs while navigating essential infrastructure improvements.
