PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County Planning Commission has turned its summer meeting schedule into a series of public hearings to solicit public input about the county’s comprehensive plan.
“This summer will be a road show,” Chairwoman Cynthia Koan said.
“We will visit each community to hear what they are thinking and what they would like to see from the plan.”
Attendance at the meetings is not a prerequisite for input.
Residents can voice their opinions either by submitting written comments at the meetings or by contributing to the Jefferson County Speak Out discussion board at www.speakupjeffco.com.
A comprehensive plan maps land use and growth policy that manages development in the county.
Jefferson County’s plan is due in spring 2018, but if it is not complete by then, the county can get an extension, Koan said.
All meetings are at 6:30 p.m. and will replace the regular agenda for the next five planning commission hearings.
The dates and locations are:
■ July 6 — Port Ludlow Beach Club, 121 Marina View Drive.
■ July 20 — Queets-Clearwater School, 146000 U.S. Highway 101.
■ Aug. 3 — Quilcene Community Center, 294952 U.S. Highway 101.
■ Aug. 17 — Jefferson County Library, 620 Cedar Ave., Port Hadlock.
■ Sept. 7 — Gardiner Community Center, 980 Old Gardiner Road.
The Speak Up site has been used twice by the city of Port Townsend since September: to solicit comments about short-term rentals and about animal policy.
As the discussion continues, people can respond to each other and enter “likes,” similar to the Facebook feature that allows users to support an idea without having to repeat what has already been said.
The end result is to create a plan that reflects the local population’s preferences about how the county should look, Koan said.
“The comprehensive plan allows us to set our goals and keep Jefferson County the way citizens want,” Koan said.
“It’s a bookmark for the future.”
For more information about the comprehensive plan, go to http://tinyurl.com/PDN-cplan.
________
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
