HomeMy WebLinkAboutCONSENT Hearing Notice re CAO - .Critical Area Ordinance JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CONSENT AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
Josh D. Peters, County Administrator
FROM: Jeremy Williammee, Community Development Director
Greg Ballard, Development Code Administrator
DATE: February 23, 2026
SUBJECT: HEARING NOTICE APPROVAL re: March 9,2026 Public Hearing on proposed
amendments to the Jefferson County Code relating to Critical Areas Ordinance(CAO)
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
On March 9,2026,the Board is scheduled to hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to the
Jefferson County Code (JCC)related to the Critical Areas Ordinance(CAO). The Board of County
Commissioners(BoCC)will take public testimony, deliberate on the proposed amendments, and take
action on the proposal.
Approval is requested for the attached legal notice announcing the public hearing scheduled for March 9,
2026,at 2:30 p.m.
ANALYSIS:
The proposed CAO amendments were reviewed during a workshop on February 2, 2026. During that
workshop,the BoCC determined that holding its own public hearing would provide additional
opportunities for public participation and testimony.
FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS:
There are standard fees for publishing legal notice two times in the local weekly newspaper.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approved the proposed public notice for publication on February 25 and March 4, 2026.
REVIEWED BY:
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Jos . Peters, County Administrator Date
1
Please publish 2 times: February 25 and March 4, 2026
Contact Person: Chelsea Pronovost
Bill to: Community Development
621 Sheridan St
Port Townsend, WA 98368
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Amendments to Jefferson County Code related to Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing is scheduled by the Jefferson County Board of
Commissioners for MONDAY,March 9, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. in the Commissioners' Chambers, County
Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368 (HYBRID). Notice of said hearing is to be
published in the official newspaper of Jefferson County.
Jefferson County is updating its Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO)to strengthen regulations in alignment
with the best available science (BAS)and to improve the document's layout, clarity, and usability. The
County last completed a comprehensive CAO update in March 2020. That effort incorporated reviews of
BAS, including the County's BAS record developed during the 2008 update, reports prepared by
Environmental Science Associates, Inc. in 2015 and 2016, and topical white papers prepared by BERK
in 2019. The primary purpose of the current update is to address changes in BAS that have emerged
since 2020.
The CAO establishes development regulations that protect the functions and values of critical areas in
unincorporated Jefferson County, while safeguarding public health, safety, and general welfare.
Adoption of the updated CAO is a non-project action intended to refine existing policies and standards
consistent with the Growth Management Act(GMA). This update does not propose or authorize any
specific projects or activities and is not limited to a particular site.
The information is available for viewing on the County website by visiting: www.co.jefferson.wa.us and
follow this pathway—Services—Laserfiche Web Portal (username and password is: public) -Board of
Commissioners—BOCC Agenda Packets—2026 Weekly Agenda Items—03 March 2026—030926—
HEARING Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO)
You are welcome to participate in this hearing. You will need to join the meeting by 2:30 p.m. using the
following methods: VIRTUALLY: Via the following Zoom, link: https://zoom.us/j/93777841705,
PHONE: Dial 1-253-215-8782 and enter access code: 937-7784-1705# and press *9 to"raise your
hand"to be called upon. Access for the hearing impaired can be accommodated using Washington Relay
Service at 1-800-833-6384, or IN-PERSON.
In addition,written testimony is also invited beginning on February 25, 2026 and ending on March 9,2026 at
the end of the Public Hearing, unless extended by the Board of County Commissioners. Written public
testimony may be submitted by Email to: JeffBoCC(c co jefferson.wa.us.
You can also Mail your testimony to: Jefferson County Commissioners' Office; PO Box 1220, Port
Townsend, WA 98368. Written testimony must be received by the Board of County Commissioners by the
end of the hearing testimony period.
Signed this 23`d day of February, 2026.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
/S/Greg Brotherton, Chair