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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAP07 12-16-2024 Frostholm emailFrom:DFrostholm@co.jefferson.wa.us To:jesse@plauchecarr.com Subject:RE: SDP2024-00006 Rock Island Shellfish Date:Monday, December 16, 2024 2:15:10 PM Attachments:20241204_120732.jpg 20241204_120750.jpg Hi Jesse, As part of reviewing the responses sent to Department of Community Development (DCD) on October 17 and November 12, 2024, a site visit was made to Killapie Beach Road on December 4, 2024. DCD observed more gear and other items stockpiled in the gravelly area immediately adjacent to the road than was present during the previous site visit on August 7, 2024. County mapping indicates that Killapie Beach Road has a 60-foot-wide right-of-way so it appears gear may still be in the road right-of-way. I have attached a photograph from the most recent site visit showing the extent of development immediately adjacent to the road. The most recent site plan submitted only shows three containers being proposed for the aquaculture application. As you can see in the attached photograph, it appears much more area on the three parcels has been developed for the proposed shellfish operation. Gravel placement and much of the gear on the property would meet the definition of development in the Jefferson County Code (JCC) 18.25.100(4)(g), which includes the definition of structure in JCC 18.25.100(19)(rr). Please revise the site plan to show all existing development on the three parcels. It is not clear how some of the development on the property supports the aquaculture proposal. For example, the rock cages have an electrical hook up that appears to be lights (rock cages are shown in an attached photo). These lights are not addressed in the Environmental Checklist. State whether the rock cages are to be retained or removed. If the intent is to keep them, please clarify how the rock cages and lights are to be used for aquaculture operations and show them on the site plan. As an attached photograph shows, firewood has been stacked. Clarify if the proposal includes using the parcel for residential purposes. If no residential use is proposed, indicate how the wood will be used in support of aquaculture operations. The ordinary high water mark (OHWM), as shown on the site plan submitted on November 12, 2024, is inconsistent with county GIS mapping. Since the site plan shows OHWM farther waterward than county mapping would suggest it should be, DCD is requesting that the a description as to how the consultant determined OHWM be submitted. DCD is trying to schedule a meeting with Public Works to discuss Killapie Beach Road. Once that meeting has occurred, I will follow up with you. Once I receive the requested information, the proposal can move forward. If you have any questions, let me know. Regards, Donna Frostholm CA received 08/05/25 EXHIBIT AP07 Jefferson County DCD From: Jesse DeNike <jesse@plauchecarr.com> Sent: Friday, December 6, 2024 10:24 A To: Donna Frostholm <DFrostholm@co.jefferson.wa.us> Subject: RE: SDP2024-00006 Rock Island Shellfish 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, I’m checking back in to see if you have additional questions about the information below and when we might get the hearing set. As you may know, oyster farming (in particular, the planting period) is seasonal dependent, and we would like to have the hearing scheduled for early this winter in order to ensure the farm can be installed for the upcoming planting season. Thank you. Jesse From: Jesse DeNike Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 11:27 AM To: Donna Frostholm <DFrostholm@co.jefferson.wa.us> Subject: RE: SDP2024-00006 Rock Island Shellfish Hi Donna, The site plan was prepared by consultants at Confluence Environmental Company. I asked them to reconfirm with me that the site plan is to scale, and they said that it is. They also said that the OHWM is accurate based on available information, and the shoreline buffer and shoreline limits are accurately placed with respect to the indicated OHWM line. With respect to the current use of the property, as previously discussed it was purchased by Mr. Carson’s family recently to continue shellfish cultivation activities. When it was acquired, there were areas of the uplands that had been previously cleared of vegetation, some of which were infested with Himalayan blackberries. There were also prior structures that had been used by the previous operators/owners. Mr. Carson has been (and is currently) managing the property in support of aquaculture. The only structures currently on the property (identified on the site plan and discussed below) are in support of aquaculture. All areas currently without vegetation are in historically cleared areas, and the only vegetation removal that Mr. Carson has conducted is to remove Himalayan blackberries that have infested previously cleared areas. Further, Mr. Carson has allowed native vegetation to reestablish in previously cleared areas. Mr. Carson has a great appreciation for the natural environment and intends to keep the footprint of operations to the minimum needed for the farm’s success. With respect to the road right-of-way, there was some rock placed in that area previously, and it was likely there during the August site visit. Mr. Carson has experienced other individuals operating vehicles in that right of way in a dangerous or intimidating manner, and the rock helped dissuade CA received 08/05/25 EXHIBIT AP07 those activities. Given concerns were raised regarding materials placed in the right of way, this rock has now been removed from the right of way. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the above items, it may be most efficient to discuss over a call. Please let me know if that is the case, and when you expect the hearing to be scheduled. Thank you. Jesse From: Donna Frostholm <DFrostholm@co.jefferson.wa.us> Sent: Monday, November 25, 2024 10:05 AM To: Jesse DeNike <jesse@plauchecarr.com> Subject: RE: SDP2024-00006 Rock Island Shellfish Hi Jesse, The site plan submitted on November 12 identified the historic aquaculture use of the property, but does not describe the current use. Based on the site visit DCD made last August, recent development has occurred on the parcels and/or within the road right-of-way, indicating a current use of the property. Also, aerial photographs indicate clearing has occurred on the parcels over the past several years. Please provide information about the current use of the property (second bullet in my September 13, 2024 email to you). Confirm that the site plan sent in is to scale. Confirm that you believe the ordinary high water mark, shoreline buffer, and limits of shoreline jurisdiction are shown correctly on that sheet. I am asking for you to verify the accuracy of the site plan because it does not appear to agree with county mapping. Once I receive your response to the above comments, I will move forward with my review of the application. 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. From: Jesse DeNike <jesse@plauchecarr.com> CA received 08/05/25 EXHIBIT AP07 Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2024 1:44 PM To: Donna Frostholm <DFrostholm@co.jefferson.wa.us> Subject: RE: SDP2024-00006 Rock Island Shellfish 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, I’m checking in to see if you have any questions about the site plan I sent last week, and to check to see when we might get the hearing scheduled. Thanks. Jesse From: Jesse DeNike Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2024 1:57 PM To: Donna Frostholm <DFrostholm@co.jefferson.wa.us> Subject: RE: SDP2024-00006 Rock Island Shellfish Hi Donna, Please see attached site plan, provided in response to your earlier request. A few notes for your attention: Rock Island may need to store both aquaculture gear as well as harvested oysters in the containers. Part of the need for storing harvested oysters would be to bring the oysters down to a colder temperature during certain times of the year, in compliance with WA Dep’t of Health requirements. The container to be used for storing oysters would have an A/C unit within it for this purpose. There is one trailer in addition to the two containers proposed for use with the farm. The trailer has a solar panel on top, and energy from this solar panel would be used to run the A/C unit. Rock Island would like to weld rebar associated with the farm’s oyster system at the property. Rock Island earlier believed that it would be able to find suitable, economically feasible off- site alternatives, but unfortunately that doesn’t appear possible. The welding would occur in areas that are currently free of vegetation (previously infested with Himalayan blackberries), which areas visible in the attached site plan. Because this differs from earlier statements, I wanted to make sure and call it out for your attention. If you have questions or need additional information, please let me know. Thank you. Jesse From: Donna Frostholm <DFrostholm@co.jefferson.wa.us> Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2024 12:32 PM To: Jesse DeNike <jesse@plauchecarr.com> CA received 08/05/25 EXHIBIT AP07 Subject: RE: SDP2024-00006 Rock Island Shellfish Hi Jesse, Containers to be used in support of the aquaculture proposal that would be located within the shoreline buffer on the three Carson parcels would likely be processed as a shoreline substantial development application and not as a shoreline variance. This would be limited to development needed for the proposed shellfish farm and would not be applicable to any other unpermitted development on the property. Once DCD has had a chance to review the response to the requested information, we will confirm the permitting process for the containers with you. Thank you for the update on the road right-of-way. Regards, Donna Frostholm Jefferson County DCD From: Jesse DeNike <jesse@plauchecarr.com> Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2024 11:03 AM To: Donna Frostholm <DFrostholm@co.jefferson.wa.us> Subject: RE: SDP2024-00006 Rock Island Shellfish 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, I’m checking back in to see where you are at in terms of your internal coordination on moving this forward. For what it’s worth, one other item mentioned in your Sep. 13, 2024 email related to any development within the Killapie Beach Road right-of-way. Mr. Carson confirmed to me that any development in the ROW near his property has been removed. Thanks, and look forward to hearing back from you soon. Jesse From: Jesse DeNike Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2024 10:43 AM To: Donna Frostholm <DFrostholm@co.jefferson.wa.us> Subject: RE: SDP2024-00006 Rock Island Shellfish Thanks for checking in on this, Donna. Yes, the code language that I mentioned during our call is found in JCC 18.25.440. I appreciate that additional clarification you provide below. CA received 08/05/25 EXHIBIT AP07 I am out of the office tomorrow but around and available for most of next week. If I recall correctly, you are doing some internal coordination (and perhaps also with Ecology) regarding the upland containers, and then you were planning to loop back with me. Hopefully, you will be finished with that next week and we can have a follow-up discussion. Jesse From: Donna Frostholm <DFrostholm@co.jefferson.wa.us> Sent: Tuesday, October 8, 2024 10:50 AM To: Jesse DeNike <jesse@plauchecarr.com> Subject: SDP2024-00006 Rock Island Shellfish Hi Jesse, Just a quick follow up to the discussion we had last week. I am assuming the reference I made to the two containers needed to support the proposed aquaculture farm as being something that the county could potentially recommend for approval was based on code language in JCC 18.25.440 aquaculture). I am assuming that it was clear, but thought I should clarify, that the other issues in my email dated September 13, 2024 are also applicable to the proposal and would be considered as part of the county review of the submitted shoreline application. 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. CA received 08/05/25 EXHIBIT AP07