PORT HADLOCK — Public hearings for a proposed commercial retreat center in Port Hadlock are planned Sept. 26-28, as the Jefferson County Department of Community Development considers the project.
Hearings on the project — a proposed 7,155-square-foot retreat center for businesses, nonprofits and other groups on Oak Bay Road — will begin at 9 a.m. each day, and likely will continue until 5 p.m., according to DCD Assistant Planner Amanda Hunt.
“I’m sure we’ll take a break at least around lunchtime,” Hunt said. “It is likely that, at least for the first two days, we’ll probably use the whole day.”
The hearings will feature several presentations, Hunt said, and time allotted for public comment will depend on the length of presentations and the number of people who want to speak.
The project has spurred objections, Hunt said, and attorneys representing a group of citizens will make presentations during the hearings.
A 2021 petition on Change.org lists several issues with the project, including an increase in traffic in a residential neighborhood and impact on local wildlife.
The meetings will be conducted virtually. Links to the meeting and documents regarding the project can be found at the Office of the Hearing Examiner’s webpage at the Jefferson County website, co.jefferson.wa.us.
The applicant for the permit is Pomona Woods, LLC, owned by Ann Burkhart, according to the public notice for the project.
Burkhart is a former Seattle resident who said on her website she was inspired to create a retreat center while on sabbatical from Starbucks in 2017.
Pomona Woods “proposes to construct a commercial, small-scale tourist and recreational retreat center along Oak Bay Road in Port Hadlock,” according to the notice.
“The Pomona Woods Retreat Center would accommodate guest reservations for group activities such as yoga retreats, business group retreats, and corporate or not-for-profit strategic planning.”
It would have 24 rooms, a commercial kitchen and would accommodate a maximum of 35 guests and seven employees, the notice said.
A caretaker residence for two on-site caretakers, septic system, 30-space parking lot, a caretaker parking space, lawn area, one access road and one entrance sign are also proposed to serve the retreat center.
According to the notice, a Determination of Non-Significance was issued for the project on March 2, but that decision was withdrawn and a new, revised DNS was issued Aug. 31.
Under state law, a DNS means a proposal is not likely to have a significant environmental impact and therefore an environmental impact statement is not required.
Appeals to the Aug. 31 DNS must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14.
Appeals can be sent to Jefferson County DCD at 621 Sheridan St., Port Townsend or emailed to Amanda Hunt at ahunt@co.jefferson.wa.us.
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Reporter Peter Segall can be reached at psegall@soundpublishing.com.
