Shoreline plan stirs concern in Jefferson County

The following article appeared in the February 24, 2009 Jefferson County edition of the Peninsula Daily News.

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Shoreline plan stirs concern in Jefferson County

By Jeff Chew
Peninsula Daily News

PORT TOWNSEND -- Jefferson County has received 472 written and verbal comments on the proposed shoreline master program update, which have been divided into issues for Planning Commission consideration, a county planner told county commissioners Monday.

The Planning Commission will continue deliberations on the matter when it convenes at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at WSU Learning Center, Shold Business Park, 201 W. Patison St., Port Hadlock.

An update of the shoreline master program, required under state law, must be done by Dec. 1, 2011, which includes the state Department of Ecology's approval.

"We have worked long and hard without a consultant team and for public involvement," county Associate Planner Michelle McConnell told the commissioners, focusing on "busting the myths" that she said were circulating about the proposal.

Proposed in the update are buffers of 100 feet on lakes and 150-foot setbacks on saltwater bodies and streams, with a 10-foot building setback from the buffer or setback.

The existing Shoreline Master Program requires waterfront buffers and setbacks of between 30 and 100 feet.

The proposal affects about 6,200 shoreline parcels and about 3,200 property owners, said McConnell, and could take two years to make final.

The county has more than 250 miles of marine shore, 22 miles of lake shoreline and more than 238 miles of river frontage property, mostly on the county's West End.

Myth busting

McConnell said contrary to the myths:

• Homeowners whose homes are more than 75 percent damaged by fire can rebuild their homes on the same sites if they can't relocate under new buffer requirement
• The new buffers will not make lots unbuildable.
• Buffers are based on science, including a "massive" study that includes a shoreline inventory.
• The proposal is not too broad and merely meets Washington law.
• The proposal does not allow mining on Hood Canal.

Noting that the city of Port Townsend is requiring similar buffers, McConnell said, "We are not out of line with the buffers we are proposing."

County Administrator Philip Morley said it was likely that another Planning Commission public hearing would be conducted.

"The public involvement process has been intense and will continue," Morley told the commissioners Monday.

"A public dialogue is necessary, but we have to meet the state legal requirement. That's a balancing act.

"We can't keep with the existing program. Flat out legally, we don't have that option."

Jefferson County planners said the final draft from Jefferson County lawmakers would be sent to Ecology for review, and final adoption would likely take place sometime in 2010.

The new regulations will get final approval from Ecology, but not until 2011, county officials have said.

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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com .