PORT ANGELES — Despite continued complaints from neighbors, the Clallam County Commissioners have scheduled approval of a binding site plan for the Island View RV park for their regular Tuesday meeting, which begins at 10 a.m. in the commissioners chambers at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St. in Port Angeles.
The commissioners had delayed the action from their Oct. 11 meeting until county staff could conduct a site visit and confirm that the conditions set by the hearings examiner had been met, especially the fence and trees intended to act as a visual barrier.
Neighbors of the proposed RV park at the junction of U.S. Highway 101 and state Highway 112 had raised numerous objections, perhaps the biggest of which was invasion of privacy.
A hearings examiner conducted a public hearing on May 6 and issued a decision on May 20 that approved the project with 27 conditions, including a 10-foot fence intended to block residents of the RV park from seeing into neighboring homes.
According to a staff memo to the commissioners, the Community Development Department selected Kevin LoPiccolo, who has more than 32 years experience with planning and development issues in multiple jurisdictions, to conduct a site visit to review whether the hearings examiner’s conditions had been met.
LoPiccolo reported that the fence had to be moved east and several of the trees intended to become an opaque barrier had died.
Developer Randy Simmons said he had installed irrigation and would delay replanting until the rainy season begins.
He was required to record the landscaping, requirements with the Clallam County Auditor, to ensure the landscaping requirements, “run with the land” and therefore apply to any future owner.
Simmons also agreed to post a $10,000 performance bond that the county can access to fund to complete the improvements according to the landscape plan required by the hearings examiner.
In other action, the commissioners:
• Reviewed a resolution declaring an emergency and authorizing the purchase of replacement boat motors and moved it to their Tuesday meeting agenda.
• Reviewed a contract with Westside Marine Inc. for purchase of two new Yamaha boat motors and moved it to their Tuesday agenda.
• Reviewed an agreement with Health Care Services for jail inmate health care services and moved it to their Tuesday agenda.
• Heard a briefing and called for a hearing to be held at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 22 regarding a proposed ordinance amending Clallam County Code Chapter 5.100 Consolidated Fee Schedule.
• Heard an update on the proposed conveyance of Slip Point that Congressman Derek Kilmer’s office is pursuing a conveyance that would require the U.S. Coast Guard to complete a hazardous material abatements prior to the county taking control of the property.
• Received a briefing on the Six-Year 2023-2028 Transportation Improvement Plan and set a public hearing for 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 8.
• Reviewed an agreement with Jefferson and Kitsap counties for Olympic Consortium — Workforce Development and moved it to their Tuesday agenda.
The commissioners also approved the following appointments to boards and commissions:
• Kristine Johnson to the Behavioral Health Advisory Board.
• Dr. Gerald B. Stephanz, Jr. to the Clallam County Board of Health.
• Skye Eastman to the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Committee.
• Paul Cunningham, Christina Smith, John DeBoer and Cheri Tinker to the Homelessness Task Force
• Timothy Cochnauer to the Marine Resources Committee.
• Bert Caldwell to the North Olympic Library System Board of Trustees.
________
Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at brian.gawley@soundpublishing.com.
