Critical Areas deadline changed to Jan. 18

The following article appeared in the July5, 2006 Jefferson County edition of the Peninsula Daily News.

---

Critical Areas deadline changed to Jan. 18

Ordinance move will allow more Jefferson County input

By Evan Cael
Peninsula Daily News

PORT TOWNSEND — The three Jefferson County commissioners have agreed to extend the deadline for final action on a critical areas ordinance.

The move extends the deadline from July 18 to Jan. 18.

This will permit more time for public comment and input.

Al Scalf, director of Jefferson County Community Development, said the next six months will be devoted to public outreach so everyone who will be affected by the ordinance will understand the effects and voice an opinion.

He said a schedule and strategy for public outreach should be worked out by Monday’s commissioners’ meeting.

The new deadline, set by the commissioners on Monday was done in the form of the adoption of amendments to a settlement agreement between the county and Washington Environmental Council.

Doubles buffers

The settlement agreement with WEC doubled wetlands buffers from the current range of 25 to 150 feet to between 50 and 300 feet.

When residents discovered the change in June, public outcry forced county officials to rethink the proposed changes.

“Because we didn’t find out about it until it went before the Planning Commission, there is a distruct of the county,” said James Fritz, president of Olympic Water Users Association.

County officials said what they’ve heard most is that residents are upset they weren’t included early enough when the amendments were being drafted.

Agreeing with extension

WEC agrees with the extension.

“We want to allow for enough time for people to participate in the process,” said Michael Mayer, legal director of WEC.

“The extension should allow all parties to sit down and give their positions.”

Why ag objects

The most vocal critics of the proposed buffer expansions have been many in the agricultural community.

Agricultural land is exempt from the buffer expansions.

But critics question what, exactly, that means.

The county’s initial draft of amendments to the critical areas ordinance exempts existing and ongoing agriculture from expanded buffers, but it doesn’t mention future agriculture.

“If we want to define what agriculture is, the ability to change or not to change, now’s the time,” said Commissioner Pat Rodgers, R-Brinnon.

Some fear that expanded buffers would discourage agricultural development.

“We do not have a large sustainable agriculture community right now,” said Norm MacLeod, water and private property rights advocate.

“But we have the land to support that.

“We have new agricultural people coming in who aren’t going to be protected under the proposal,” he said. “We have to look out for the future and make sure they can come here.”

----------------------

Reporter Evan Cael can be reached at 360-385-2335 or evan.cael@peninsuladailynews.com.