PORT TOWNSEND — Port of Port Townsend commissioners approved an agreement Wednesday with the city of Port Townsend and Jefferson County commissioners to collaborate on the future of county economic development.
Thanking Port Townsend City Councilman David King for his work on the agreement, Port Commissioner John Collins said, “This is a great first step.”
Collins and port Commissioner Dave Thompson approved the memorandum of understanding. Port Commissioner Leif Erickson did not vote.
He was delayed by a late-running ferry and was unable to attend the meeting.
King, who attended the port commissioners meeting Wednesday, agreed with Collins, saying the City Council “enthusiastically” supported the agreement when it met in a special meeting last Saturday.
The City Council authorized Mayor Michelle Sandoval to execute an agreement with the port and county that clarifies land uses allowed at the port’s Jefferson County International Airport, and maps out a future of working together on economic growth.
The Jefferson County commissioners are expected to consider the agreement Tuesday during their regular meeting — which will be delayed one day by Monday’s Presidents Day holiday.
The commissioners would be the last of the three government agencies involved to take action, finalizing the agreement.
The agreement calls for collaborative negotiations for a joint economic development planning agreement, and a market analysis to determine which economic sectors are mostly likely to experience growth in the county.
Based on the agreement, the city will not appeal the county commissioners’ approval of a 24-acre light industrial rezoning at the airport.
Whether a Joint Growth Management Steering Committee to guide the future economic planning process would be formed is unknown.
The City Council last year considered appealing the county commissioners’ approval of the Port of Port Townsend’s 24-acre light industrial-essential public facilities rezoning proposal at the airport, but after hearing pleas from county residents to not go through the Land Use Planning Act appeals process, the council backed away.
County Administrator Philip Morley joined port Executive Larry Crockett and city Manager David Timmons in coming up with the initial agreement.
The intention is to create a joint strategy for growth management countywide, city leaders agreed.
The three governments are expected to meet jointly on the issue by some time in April.
The agreement follows more than five years of acrimony over the direction of economic development in the county, with some city leaders concerned about losing business and tax dollars to new county businesses.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
