HOH — The three Jefferson County commissioners heard of residents’ frustration with land-use restrictions created by the state Growth Management Act and the National Park Service during a rare visit to the west side of the county this week.
Although many of the complaints voiced by the 16 residents of West Jefferson County who attended the special commissioners’ meeting Tuesday related to issues outside the jurisdiction of the county, Commissioner David Sullivan said the three elected officials were listening.
“We are here to help you work the system so you can get an answer,” Sullivan said at one point.
“I may not be able to answer your questions, but I can be your advocate and make sure you are addressed appropriately.”
While all three commissioners, who regularly meet in Port Townsend on the east side of the county on Admiralty Inlet, have separately visited the west side of the county, which is along the Pacific Ocean, Tuesday’s meeting was the first time all three have held a public gathering since March 24, 2003, according to Lorna Delaney, clerk for the board of commissioners.
Many of the issues brought up Tuesday night were individual constituent inquiries, such as requesting permission to subdivide land in order to allow relatives to build a home.
Other land management complaints specifically criticized the state Growth Management Act and referred to a “land grab” by the National Park Service and a coalition of environmental groups involved in the Wild Olympics Campaign.
The environmental groups are considering suggestions for designating specific areas as wilderness if they are available from willing sellers of private property.
“Taking land off the tax rolls and turning it into a wilderness area is ludicrous,” said landowner Marilyn Lewis.
“They tell us they are saving our property, but what they are doing is saving it to create more parks,” she said, referring to the nearly million acres of Olympic National Park.
“We don’t need any more.”
Lewis wants to donate 5 acres of her land for the creation of a cemetery that would be away from the floodplain but said she cannot get the permits to do so because of a provision in the state Growth Management Act.
That act’s prohibition against subdividing less than 20 acres hurts the local economy, Rob Capelle said.
“It takes a certain type of person to live out here,” he said.
“This isn’t like Port Townsend.
“We need any development we can get, [whether it is] five acres, two acres or 20 acres,” he said.
“The Growth Management Act was supposed to be grass roots, where people in remote areas could decide what they wanted.”
County stream buffers — which prohibit development within a certain distance from waterways — have also caused discontent, said landowner Frank Gonzales.
“I can’t subdivide five acres, but it’s OK for the Park Service to take five acres away from me by moving” the boundaries, he said.
“I was always worried about crackheads taking my televisions and my generators, but I’d rather have 10 crackheads living next to me because they aren’t taking my land like the Park Service is.”
Gonzales said he found the “opt-in” provision during motor vehicle registration insulting.
Those getting or renewing registration are asked if they want to donate $5 to support state parks.
“They want me to donate five bucks when I renew my plates, but I just donate five acres,” Gonzales said.
John Richmond thanked the commissioners for the meeting at the end of the two-hour session.
“I am glad that you all came out here to discuss these issues in a gentlemanly way,” he said.
“This was a valuable discussion.”
The distance in highway miles between Port Townsend and Tuesday’s meeting site is nearly 100 miles.
Most of the population of Jefferson County is on the east side, but the county also curls south of the Olympic Mountains to a section along the Pacific Coast.
That geographic distance often drives a wedge between residents of this remote area and their government.
The area is part of Commissioner John Austin’s district. The other commissioners, Sullivan and Phil Johnson, attended with him.
“John is your commissioner, but a lot of times the person who addresses a particular issue is the one who is in the office and answers the phone,” Sullivan said.
“We all represent you.”
Along with the commissioners, the county was represented by Administrator Philip Morley, Superior Court Clerk Ruth Gordon, Tami Pokorny of the county Department of Water Quality and Environmental Health, and Sheriff’s Deputy Dave Thomas.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
