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Home My WebLink AboutCONSENT Resolution Closure of Sandy Shore Lake Road Department of Public Works O Consent Agenda Page 1 of 2 Jefferson County Board of Commissioners Agenda Request To: Board of Commissioners Josh Peters, County Administrator From: Eric Kuzma, Public Works Director Agenda Date: February 9, 2024 Subject: Closure of Sandy Shore Lake Road at Milepost 0.00 County Road #428509 Statement of Issue: Closure of Sandy Shore Lake Road at Milepost 0.00 to vehicular traffic. Allow the landowner, Rayonier timber company, to install a gate. Analysis/Strategic Goals/Pro's & Con's: In a letter dated January 29, 2026, Rayonier has requested that the County close Sandy Shore Lake Road at Milepost 0.00 (intersection with State Route 104) and allow Rayonier to install a gate to prevent illegal activity. The road is surrounded by Rayonier property and accesses no property other than that owned by Rayonier. On June 3, 2024, the Board of Commissioners closed Sandy Shore Lake Road at Milepost 1.48 and allowed Rayonier to install a gate at Milepost 1.48. This has helped to deter criminal activity and trespass issues in the area immediately surrounding the lake; however, the problems with illegal dumping, timber theft, and other criminal activity are as bad as ever along the road between Milepost 0.00 (intersection with State Route 104) and the gate at Milepost 1.48. Installation of a gate at Milepost 0.00 is the only cost-effective means by which to deter illegal activity at this site. Fiscal Impact/Cost Benefit Analysis: The ongoing issues on Sandy Shore Lake Road require resources from both the County and the landowner that could be better used elsewhere. The road serves no other purpose than to access land entirely owned by Rayonier, and Rayonier controls who can access their land through a private permit process. There is no reason to spend public resources on a road that the public cannot realistically use for any legitimate purpose. Department of Public Works O Consent Agenda Page 2 of 2 Recommendation: Please approve the attached Resolution which will close Sandy Shore Lake Road to vehicular traffic at Milepost 0.00 and allow Rayonier to install a gate. Formal removal of Sandy Shore Lake Road from the County's official Road Log and/or vacation of Sandy Shore Lake Road per RCW 36.87 and Jefferson County Code JCC 12.10 may be considered at a future date. Department Contact: Monte Reinders, County Engineer Fleet/Roads Operations Manager x242 Reviewed By: •L'—) lqat, Jo eters, County Administrator Date JEFFERSON COUNTY STATE OF WASHINGTON In the Matter of Closure of Sandy Shore Lake Road,Milepost 0.00 County Road No. 428509 WHEREAS, Sandy Shore Lake Road is a county road that has been listed on the Official County Road Log for decades with a length of 1.76 miles, and WHEREAS, the length of 1.76 miles places the end of the county road in the vicinity of Sandy Shore Lake when measured from the intersection with State Route 104, although the true end point has been a matter of debate for decades, and WHEREAS, Sandy Shore Lake Road is a gravel surfaced roadway capable of carrying two- way traffic to approximately Milepost 1.48 and beyond that point is a narrow, single lane, unmaintained roadway, and WHEREAS,Sandy Shore Lake Road is entirely surrounded by land owned by the Rayonier timber company and does not serve to provide access to any other property except for Sandy Shore Lake,and WHEREAS, on June 3,2024, the Board of Commissioners closed Sandy Shore Lake Road by Resolution 31-0603-24R at Milepost 1.48 and allowed Rayonier to install a gate at Milepost 1.48 to deter theft,vandalism,illegal dumping,and other illegal activity,and WHEREAS,in a letter dated January 29,2026,Rayonier has requested permission to install a gate at Milepost 0.00 (intersection with State Route 104) and to close the road to public vehicular traffic beyond this point due to ongoing timber theft,illegal dumping,and other illegal activity,and WHEREAS,County staff has witnessed and confirmed the above-described ongoing illegal activity at this location which requires County and landowner resources to clean up and mitigate,and WHEREAS,Jefferson County does not intend to expend public funds to upgrade or maintain the road beyond Milepost 0.00 as public road funds should be used for higher priorities on roads that taxpayers use to get to their homes and business,and WHEREAS,Chapter 47.48 RCW authorizes closure of roads, Page 1 of 3 NOW, THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY,WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Whereas Clauses are Findings of Fact. The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners hereby adopts the above "Whereas"clauses as Findings of Fact. Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of this Resolution is to approve the closure of Sandy Shore Lake Road at Milepost 0.00 (intersection with State Route 104). Section 3. Closure of Sandy Shore Lake Road at Milepost 0.00. Jefferson County Board of Commissioners hereby approves the closure of Sandy Shore Lake Road at Milepost 0.00 (intersection with State Route 104) to vehicular traffic other than that associated with the landowner Rayonier, vehicles permitted by Rayonier, or government personnel acting in their official capacity until such further notice of the Board of Commissioners. Rayonier may install a gate at Milepost 0.00 at Rayonier's own expense. Public Works shall cease maintenance and expenditures of public funds on this closed roadway. Formal removal of Sandy Shore Lake Road from the official County Road Log and/or vacation of Sandy Shore Lake Road may be considered at a future date. Section 4. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or section of this Resolution or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this Resolution or its application to other persons or circumstances shall be fully valid and shall not be affected. Section 5. SEPA Categorical Exemption. This Resolution is categorically exempt from the State Environmental Policy Act under WAC 197-11-800(19)(b). Section 6. Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect and be in full force immediately upon passage by the Board of County Commissioners. (SIGNATURES FOLLOW ON NEXT PAGE) Page 2 of 3 ADOPTED and APPROVED this day of February,2026. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SEAL: Heather Dudley-Nollette,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,Chair, District 2 ATTEST: Greg Brotherton, District 3 &/:,- Carolyn Gallaway, CMC Date Monte Reinders, P.E., Date Clerk of the Board County Engineer and Fleet/Road Operations Mgr. Approved as to form only: Philip C. Hunsucker, Date Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Page 3 of 3 Rayonier Pacific Resource Unit More then trees January 29, 2026 Jefferson County Public Works 623 Sheridan Street Port Townsend, WA 98368 Sent via email: Subject: Follow-up: Request for Gate Installation at Hwy 104— Sandy Shore Lake Road Dear Mr. Reinders, I am writing to follow up on our April 15, 2024, formal request and the subsequent June 2024 discussion with the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners regarding the management of public access on Sandy Shore Lake Road. Our initial proposal focused on reinstalling a gate at approximately Milepost 1.48. However, we also discussed revisiting the issue with the Commissioners and your department about moving the gate location further up the road to its intersection with Hwy 104. Based on those discussions and the worsening conditions we are observing on-site, Rayonier would like to formally request that a gate be installed at the Hwy 104 intersection. This relocation is essential to effectively address the persistent criminal activity and environmental degradation that continues to plague the Sandy Shore Lake area. The corridor remains burdened by high volumes of littering, vandalism, and drug use . Furthermore, we are seeing the ongoing theft of regulatory legacy leave trees,which undermines our environmental stewardship and safety goals. Moving the gate to the primary entry point at Hwy 104 provides the most comprehensive deterrent to motorized vehicle access while still permitting non-motorized public access to the lake as discussed. Rayonier remains committed to the stewardship of these lands and is prepared to bear all costs for the installation and maintenance of a gate. As previously agreed,the County and emergency service providers will have the means to install their own locks to ensure immediate access for official duties or emergencies. We appreciate your continued support of Rayonier/Pope's goal of responsible forest management in Jefferson County, and please reach out to me or Holli Johnson if you have any questions regarding this revised request. Sincerely, Sean Sean Greif Harvest Manager II 360-440-4811 Sean.Greif@rayonier.com \ - . ‘4,44.1.....I'4}„.. - Milepost 0.00 \ \ • hi I _, . • 801231001 r ��Qi.. - W .801224001 >� 1 i ..--- ' ' i \ r, , .ri -- �, �' 801261001.t ,` \ 801261002 vr.' , 801273001 r.. ' .Y, S. , : { i --, . 1 4 t 801274001 - A 02 801274003 1 ``` . 801274002 I Vicinity Map—Sandy Shore Lake Road , i '(y4_ :'� .. Z g .P rY�..- y+ �r+ h< •4 $.'�k�r-�` dot • ✓r a • y ,i ' irk.�fr , -w . '4F s P',s ., I I , -# "7 r. - s-- ' t 1 _ 3 .E aySvgA ' F sr ` .. s a, - -'' tiff_ Typical Illegal Dumping-Sandy Shore Lake Road