PORT TOWNSEND — The Port of Port Townsend’s top executive called for unity among port, city, county and utility district officials to find an agreement that would support the port’s proposed Jefferson County International Airport green manufacturing zone for a light industrial park, or eco park, as it has been called.
While county planners and Jefferson County Public Utility District officials support the port’s proposal — the PUD says that water supply is not an issue — City Manager David Timmons is urging the county to slow the process until the pace of development in the county can be discussed, including water issues.
Executive Director Larry Crockett said he would set up discussions with Timmons and county Administrator Philip Morley, and also include Al Scalf, county director of Community Development, and city Director of Development Services Rick Sepler in the conversation.
“We need to discuss all this, and get to the bottom of it,” Crockett said.
The rezoning, which the county staff and planning commission support, would cover 24 acres south of the airport’s runway.
Three acres of the rezoned area would be used for a new East Jefferson Fire-Rescue building as an “essential public facility” on the airport property between state highways 19 and 20, less than a mile north of Four Corners Road.
The planning commission on Oct. 7 approved the port’s proposal 5-2, with two planning commissioners voting against it because they wanted to know more about water availability.
The county Planning Commission will pass its action along to the elected county commissioners Oct. 21 for the final approval.
Develop sites
The port wants to develop sites of an acre or more on the property, with up to 10 businesses locating there, and possibly generating up to 100 jobs, Crockett said.
The industrial park would encourage low-impact development uses, such as on-site stormwater retention and rain gardens.
Crockett supported the idea of government leaders meeting on the airport industrial development matter.
“We all should be helping each other in developing everything,” Crockett told the port commissioners Wednesday,
Crockett said he doubted that any building would commence for four or five years, so there was really no sense of urgency now.
Timmons is not far from Crockett’s wishes to communicate.
The city manager has said that he would recommend to the City Council next Monday that a joint meeting of the government bodies be convened as a committee.
Timmons also wants to include the school districts and convene the Joint Growth Management Steering Committee in the discussion.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
