Jefferson panel to study wetland buffers

The following article appeared in the July 19, 2006 Jefferson County edition of the Peninsula Daily News.

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Jefferson panel to study wetlands buffers

By Evn Cael
Peninsula Daily News

PORT TOWNSEND — To sort out controversial issues with Jefferson County's proposed critical areas ordinance — namely the portion doubling wetland buffer zones in the county — a Planning Commission subcommittee will be formed to analyze and propose changes to the ordinance.

During the regular Planning Commission meeting tonight at 6:30 at the WSU Learning Center at Shold Business Park, 210 W. Pattison in Port Hadlock, candidates for the critical areas subcommittee will be discussed, said Jim Hagen, Planning Commission chair.

The subcommittee will be composed of three planning commissioners and stakeholders affected by the proposed ordinance that was drafted May 17 by the Jefferson County Department of Community Development.

The Stakeholders include Farm Bureau, real estate agents, homebuilders, property rights advocates, environmentalists and a representative from the west end of the county.

The members of the committee are not expected to be named at the meeting, said Hagen.

"One of the purposes of the committee is to receive input from the public and make changes to the ordinance," said Hagen.

"We've had difficulty engaging the public."

But he said in the past month he's received a notebook full of comments from residents opposed to the expansion of wetland buffers — properties designed to protect wetlands from manmade activities.

Only three are not only in favor of buffers doubling the current lengths — from the current 25 feet to 150 feet — but request even larger ones.

The committee will closely examine the proposed ordinance that came about from a settlement agreement with Washington Environmental Council that accused Jefferson County of not using best available science to regulate its wetland buffers.

The committee will look at places in the ordinance that can be changed that are not required by the settlement agreement, said Hagen.

Also, he said, it will see if there is science available that would support smaller but equally effective buffers.

Oct. 2 report sought

The Department of Community Development has requested that the committee deliver a report by Oct. 2, but Hagen said he doesn't think that will give the committee enough time to adequately look at the issues and make a recommendation.

The original deadline for the county commissioners to adopt the proposed ordinance was July 18, as stated in the settlement agreement, but the county has been granted an extension until Jan. 18, 2007.

An Aug. 2 workshop during the regular Planning Commission meeting will give residents a chance to learn about the proposed ordinance and make comments.

The workshop is a 7:30 p.m. at the WSU Learning Center.

The Department of Community Development is revising the critical areas ordinance [and] is expecting to deliver it to the Planning Commission in November.

"An issue of this significance and magnitude should have had more public process than it has," said Hagen.

"Regardless of what position is taken, all sides agree that it's imperative that the public is involved in this."

Information of the critical areas proposal is available online at

www.co.jefferson.wa.us/commdevelopment/CriticalAreas.htm

or contact Josh Peters, Depertment of Development long range planner, at 360-379-4466 or at jpeters@co.jefferson.wa.us.

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