HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Request for Hearing re Critical Areas Ordinance
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JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
Josh D. Peters, County Administrator
FROM: Jeremy Williammee, Community Development Director
Greg Ballard, Development Code Administrator
DATE: March 9, 2026
SUBJECT: HEARING and POSSIBLE ACTION re: Amendments to the Jefferson County Code
regarding Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO)
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
The Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) has scheduled a public hearing for March 9, 2026, at 2:30
p.m. to consider amendments to the Jefferson County Code (JCC) related to the Critical Areas Ordinance
(CAO). Specifically, amendments to chapter 17.05 JCC (General Provisions for Port Ludlow Master
Planned Resort) in Appendix C, the amendments to chapter 18.10 JCC in Appendix D; the amendments to
18.30 (Development Standards) in Appendix E, the amendments to chapter 18.40 JCC (Permit
Application and Review Procedures/SEPA Implementation) in Appendix F, and the amendments to
chapter 18.42 JCC (Personal Wireless Service Facilities) in Appendix G.
ANALYSIS:
The Planning Commission (PC) held a public hearing on December 17, 2025, and continued deliberations
on January 7, 2026. After completing its review, the PC voted 9–0 to recommend that the BoCC adopt the
proposed amendments to title 18 of the JCC pertaining to critical areas.
The BoCC conducted a workshop on February 2, 2026, to review the PC’s recommendation. Following
discussion, the BoCC elected to hold its own public hearing to gather additional testimony on the
proposed amendments. On February 23, the BoCC approved a notice of public hearing for March 9, 2026,
at 2:30 p.m., which was subsequently published in the February 25 and March 4, 2026 editions of The
Leader. The Board may deliberate and take action on the CAO immediately following the hearing.
DCD staff have reviewed the PC’s recommendation and prepared the attached updated amendments for
the BoCC’s consideration. These updates are consistent with the PC’s recommendations and are limited to
correcting scrivener’s errors and ensuring alignment with Resolution 17‑19 on regulatory reform. The
Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has reviewed the staff recommendation.
FISCAL IMPACT/COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS:
The General Fund supports this planning process. No significant fiscal impact from the decision to hold a
public hearing, other than the fee charged by the newspaper of record.
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RECOMMENDATION:
Conduct the public hearing on March 9, 2026, at 2:30 p.m., deliberate, and potentially take final action on
the proposed amendments to the Jefferson County Code related to the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO)
update. The Board may choose to begin or continue deliberations at a later date. The Board may also opt
to keep the public hearing open to a specified date and time, to continue deliberations and accept
additional written testimony or to receive additional oral testimony at a future continued hearing.
REVIEWED BY
Josh D. Peters, County Administrator Date