PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County’s Irondale-Port Hadlock Urban Growth Area has been found to be fully compliant with the state Growth Management Act, giving the county the go-ahead to obtain funding for a multimillion-dollar sewage treatment system serving the Tri-Area’s commercial district and higher-density residential sites.
The next step is to obtain funding for project design and complete acquisition of sewage treatment plant property.
“If we have both of those in place, we are in a better position for project funding,” said County Commissioner David Sullivan on Monday.
The Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board issued its final compliance order closing the appeal case filed by Irondale Community Action Neighbors and finding the urban growth area the county designated to have met state law.
Community dialogue and planning efforts have examined the concept of a nonmunicipal urban growth are in the Tri-Area dating back to the early 1990s and upon adoption of the county’s comprehensive plan in 1998.
The growth area boundary since then has been refined to areas of Irondale and Port Hadlock, representing the greater density and intensity of land use in the Tri-Area.
The Irondale and Port Hadlock areas have already developed at near-urban densities.
However, without a designated urban growth area and the full range of urban services, state law prohibits the development of more intense land uses.
“The hearings board decision is a significant milestone for Jefferson County,” said Sullivan.
“This completes a key step toward planning for infrastructure necessary for future economic development, affordable housing and improved water quality in Port Hadlock.”
Sullivan added that he “appreciates the perseverance of many people on this planning issue over the past two decades.”
‘Greater opportunities’
Joel Peterson, associate planner with the county Department of Community Development said, “The sewer facility is a service that will help us grow greater opportunities for our community.”
Jefferson County has received state Department of Ecology approval for the Tri-Area project.
The county has until 2024 to complete work on the system, cost of which has been estimated at more than $50 million once fully built.
State Department of Ecology has also made a preliminary determination that the sewage collection and treatment system construction project is 100 percent eligible for a State Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund loan.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
