PORT TOWNSEND — The Board of Jefferson County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to add the Port Hadlock sewer project and two additional items to the annual comprehensive plan amendment cycle.
Commissioners also approved the study of barring future recreational marijuana production and processing facilities from operating on rural residential land and researching what properties may be able to connect to the Dosewallips State Park’s wastewater treatment facility.
In addition to the amendments, the commissioners extended the deadlines for the additional work to Feb. 26 for the Planning Commission’s review and April 30 for final commissioners’ approval in order to ease time constraints on the county Department of Community Development (DCD).
County staff initially recommended only the Port Hadlock sewer project be added to the final docket due to staff capacity and lack of time caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The update to the project is recognizing changes to the design, so it would update the current project in the comprehensive plan, County Administrator Philp Morley said.
The additional work on the sewer project planning is estimated to cost $5,200 in addition to the more than $60,000 already set aside, according to commission documents.
The recreational marijuana policy change would not allow future facilities to apply for a conditional use permit on rural residential land and was recommended by the Planning Commission to be added to the docket after it received significant public comment calling for the change.
Staff had recommend limiting the revision to rural residential zones that were at or smaller than 5 acres, since no facility has been approved on larger acreage, but the commissioners said they want all the rural residential areas to fall under the same guidelines.
The estimated financial impact for the marijuana issue is $15,000, which includes the cost of hiring a consultant, planning and administrative staff time that will come out of the county’s general fund, according to commission documents.
Currently, there are at least two recreational marijuana facilities that are permitted to operate in the county, and if the code is changed, they will become legal non-conforming facilities and would be able to continue operations, Morley said.
The Brinnon wastewater plan would evaluate what properties the county department of Environmental Health determines what could or should be connected to the Dosewallips State Park’s wastewater treatment facility. The study would address environmental concerns arising from failing septic systems in Brinnon and was included on the initial projects list for the potential Comprehensive Plan amendments, according to commission documents.
The estimated financial impact for the Brinnon project is $12,500 from the general fund, which includes hiring a consultant and administrative staff time, according to commission documents.
The extended timeline causes overlap between the 2020 docket and the 2021 version because submissions for proposed amendments next year are due March 1. However, there is not overlap for the work of the Planning Commission or the county commissioners, said Linda Paralez, DCD acting director.
County staff will write the official amended resolution this week for the commissioners to approve during their next meeting on Monday.
The full discussion on Monday and the outline of the docket items added can be viewed at tinyurl.com/PDN-JeffCoDocketAmendments.
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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5 or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.
