Jefferson Comprehensive Plan hearing slated

The following article appeared in the July 30, 2006 Jefferson County edition of the Peninsula Daily News.

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Jefferson Comprehensive Plan hearing slated

Penninsula Daily News

The Jefferson County Planning Commission will meet Wednesday to hold a public hearing on four proposed Comprehensive Plan amendments that each involve changes to land use designations.

The amendments are addressed in the staff report for the 2006 Comprehensive Plan
amendment docket.

(http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/commdevelopment/2006cycle.htm)

The public hearing begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Washington State University Community Learning Center in Shold Business Park, 201 W. Patison St., Port Hadlock.

Also, there will be a presentation by Tom Beckwith, consultant for the county and City of Port Townsend, on an assessment of housing needs in the county.

Then at 7:30 p.m., the Planning Commission will hold a workshop on the proposed critical areas ordinance that has been substantially debated since it was drafted May 17.

The commission is seeking candidates to join a committee that will re-examine the critical areas proposals and deliver a report in October.

The commission is looking for volunteers who represent agriculture, forestry, economic development, environmental protection, property owners, builders and real estate agents.

"The new timetable for revising a code amendment proposal will be reviewed and a general question and answer period will be conducted, in addition to setting up the critical areas committee," said Al Scalf, county community development director.

"After hearing from potential [committee] candidates on August 2nd, the Planning Commission will establish a working group of stakeholders who represent various sectors of the community.

"They'll meet over the coming months to review scientific information, recommend revisions to rhe draft ordinance and frame those revisions in the context of the requirement in state law to consider 'best available science,' " Scalf added.

The new committee is scheduled to meet for the first time Aug. 10.