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HomeMy WebLinkAbout011 Additional Information Request & ResponseFrom:Jesse DeNike To:Donna Frostholm Subject:RE: SDP2024-00006 Rock Island Aquaculture - Additional Information Request Date:Friday, August 30, 2024 8:21:13 AM ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. Hi Donna, Thank you for your email. Responses to your information requests are included in underline text added to your email below. While providing this information, I also want to check in on two questions I asked earlier. 1. Were any public comments submitted regarding the project? If so, please forward them to us at your earliest convenience. 2. Can you provide an update as to when the hearing is expected to be scheduled/held? Thank you, Jesse From: Donna Frostholm <DFrostholm@co.jefferson.wa.us> Sent: Friday, August 16, 2024 11:02 AM To: Jesse DeNike <jesse@plauchecarr.com> Subject: SDP2024-00006 Rock Island Aquaculture - Additional Information Request Mr. DeNike, The comment period for the above-referenced shoreline application has ended and, with this email, Jefferson County Department of Community Development is requesting additional information. Provide responses to the following comments pertaining requirements in Chapter 18.25 – Shoreline Master Program of the Jefferson County Code (JCC). 1. A policy in JCC 18.25.440(1)(b) and a regulation in JCC 18.25.440(4)(e)(iii) require information about upland development associated with aquaculture operations. Neither the Code Consistency Analysis nor the Habitat Management Plan appear to address this. Information submitted for the pre-application meeting indicated an upland location would be needed to construct the SEAPA baskets and the current shoreline application indicates no upland ground disturbance would occur. Please clarify if an upland location is needed to operate the aquaculture farm and provide responses to the SMP policy and regulation pertaining to upland development. JCC 18.25.440(1)(b) includes a policy that protect and improve water quality, minimize damage to important nearshore habitats, minimize interference with navigation and normal public use of surface waters, and minimize the potential for cumulative adverse impacts, such as those resulting from in-water structures/apparatus/equipment, land-based facilities, and substrate disturbance/modification. JCC 18.25.440(4)(e)(iii) states upland structures accessory to aquaculture use that do not require a waterside location or have a functional relationship to the water shall be located landward of shoreline buffers required by SMP. The only areas of the upland that would be used accessory to the aquaculture operations would be two shipping contains (approx. 160 square feet in size). These containers would be used to store tools and gear used for shellfish cultivation (e.g., oyster bags, etc.). These containers are located as far away from the water as possible and outside of the standard 150 foot buffer. They are existing containers and would not adversely impact water quality, nearshore habitat, or result in adverse cumulative impacts. 2. Based on the information submitted, it appears that rebar and rebar racks will be inserted about eight inches into the substrate to hold the SEAPA baskets in place and that no portion of the SEAPA system will rest on intertidal substrates. Please confirm this is correct. This is correct. If the French method of installation is other than inserting the rebar racks at a 90 degree angle, provide additional information about this type of installation. 3. The Environmental Checklist indicates that a holding area will be needed. Is the holding area the same location as the intertidal grow out area where the SEAPA baskets will be installed? The referenced holding area would be located on the beach, roughly between the +2 and +4 elevations (as measured from MLLW). These holding areas would be outside of potential sand lance and surf smelt habitat and therefore would avoid potential impacts to forage fish consistent with the Habitat Management Plan submitted with the application. The tidelands are associated with parcels 965100009, -010, and -011 and the shoreline designation for the shorelands above ordinary high water mark is Natural. Aerial photographs indicate unpermitted development has occurred within 200 feet of ordinary high water mark and within a county road right-of-way (of a road that has been closed by the county). Unpermitted development within shoreline jurisdiction was confirmed during an August 7, 2024 site visit. Please clarify if the upland portions of any of these three parcels (i.e., area above ordinary high water mark) is proposed to be used as part of the current aquaculture application. The only upland areas that would be used in association with the farm consist of the containers discussed in item #1 above, which are located outside of the shoreline buffer. When Mr. Carson purchased the properties, structures and significant debris remained from the prior owners. Mr. Carson has taken extensive efforts to clean up the property since his ownership, including removal of debris and dangerous or unsound structures. As you likely saw during your site visit, neighboring properties have significant development and structures on their properties, along with abandoned and/or unregistered vehicles and debris. Mr. Carson is hopeful that his neighbors will clean up their properties soon, just as he has done since taking over ownership. Regards, Donna Frostholm, PWS Associate Planner - Lead/Wetland Specialist Jefferson County Department of Community Development 621 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, Washington 98368 360-379-4466 dfrostholm@co.jefferson.wa.us DCD IS OPEN MONDAY – THURSDAY FROM 9:00 – 12:00 and 1:00 - 4:30; CLOSED FRIDAY. All emails sent to and from this address will automatically be archived by Jefferson County and emails may be subject to Public Disclosure under Chapter 42.56 RCW.