PORT TOWNSEND — The three Jefferson County commissioners unanimously approved the Port of Port Townsend’s request to rezone a 24-acre area at the Jefferson County International Airport for light industry and a fire station.
City of Port Townsend officials opposed the commissioners’ action, calling for a more comprehensive industrial zoning plan that takes its own industrial areas into account.
As he moved to approve the rezoning, county Commissioner John Austin said the action “certainly indicates our support for economic development” and creating new jobs.
“I think it’s unfortunate that the issues the city wanted addressed were not all addressed,” said Rick Sepler, city development services director. “The city will evaluate its options.”
County Commissioner Phil Johnson said his concern about the development’s impervious surface — such as sidewalks and paving that block rainwater infiltration and natural groundwater recharge — was “outweighed by the county needing some economic development.”
At least 100 jobs
The rezoning would allow for a fire station, building space for eight to 10 light industrial businesses and at least 100 jobs, port officials said. It is to be designed to be environmentally friendly, they said.
The county commissioners are involved because the airport is in unincorporated area.
County Commissioner David Sullivan said the city and county could talk more about the development that abuts the south side of the airport.
Before they acted, the county commissioners heard their questions addressed by county Director of Community Development Al Scalf and Associate Planner David Wayne Johnson, lead planner for the rezoning request.
Among those questions was whether the county commissioners’ approval would set a precedent for future airport essential public facilities requests on adjacent port land.
Crockett told the commissioners that was a possibility but two other parcels were not part of the airport property and would face Federal Aviation Administration scrutiny as well as review under the county comprehensive plan.
City concerns
The commissioners had delayed action Monday after city leaders, including City Manager David Timmons, expressed concerns.
Timmons stressed that the city did not oppose the port’s proposal that would include a new fire station and other light industrial businesses. Officials want a “broader commitment in development,” he said.
Timmons and Sepler on Monday said that the city did not know what exactly could go in on the site. The port was vague on that account, they said.
“We’re not objecting to appropriate uses at the airport, but inappropriate uses,” Timmons said.
Timmons said that changing the zoning was not necessarily going to create jobs.
City Attorney John Watts called for more time so the city, port and county could work out their differences on the project.
He called the proposal “a speculative rezone.”
Port Executive Director Larry Crockett said the action clears the way for the port to go back to the Peninsula Development District, the North Olympic Peninsula’s regional economic development arm, to complete a federal grant process.
The grant would fund planning for a binding site plan, among other items.
Crockett figures that it would take at least two years to get through the binding site plan process.
Port Commissioner Herb Beck thanked the county commissioners.
“I’ve worked over 25 years for this project,” he said smiling.
Beck, a port commissioner for 37 years, leaves at the end of the year, having been unseated in the November election by yacht builder Leif Erickson.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
