HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-07-2026 Minutes MINUTES
JEFFERSON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
Regular Meeting – January 7th, 2026
WSU Extension Classroom
97 Oak Bay Rd, Port Hadlock-Irondale, WA 98339
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Chair Koan called the meeting to order at 05:32 p.m.
Kevin Coker Present Matt Sircely Present Sunny Allen Present Virtually
Cynthia Koan Present LD Richert Present Chris Llewellyn Present
Devin Gonzalez Present Virtually Michael Shultz Present Andrew Schwartz Present
APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA: Chair Koan provides an edit to
the agenda; Agenda Item1 should be changed to reflect the beginning of
deliberations not a continuance of the hearing. Clerk notes the required change.
Chair Koan asks for any objections to approving the minutes with the added change.
No objections are made; agenda is approved by unanimous consent.
APPROVAL OF 12/17/2025 MINUTES: 12/17/2025 minutes moved for approval
by Commissioner Richert. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Schwartz.
Chair Koan asks for any objections. No objections are made; minutes are approved
by unanimous consent.
GENERAL UPDATES
PLANNING COMMISSION UPDATES:
1. Chair Koan provides an update in regard to meeting location. The transit
center is suggested as the alternative to WSU. Meetings would change to
every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. All Planning
Commissioners agree this is a reasonable location and time for future
meetings.
DCD STAFF UPDATES:
1. DCD Clerk Tonya Cruz repeats the update about the location change and will
provide another update when the new location and time are officially set.
PUBLIC COMMENT – GENERAL
PUBLIC COMMENT: Public comments, in their entirety, can be viewed within the
video recording of the meeting which is located in our Laserfiche Web Portal:
www.co.jefferson.wa.us – Services>Laserfiche Web Portal (username and password
are both: public)>Community Development>Planning
Commission>Mtgs>Recordings>PC Meeting Recordings 2025>XX-XX-2025. Time
stamps within the video recording of the meeting are referenced below as necessary
1. None
TRANSMITTED INFORMATION:
1. 12-17-2025 Meeting Minutes
2. 01-07-2026 Agenda
3. APPENDIX C _Definitions
4. Article I & II Mod. Auth.
5. Article VI Mod. FWHCA Mod
6. Article VII Mod. Wetland Mod
7. Comments 11-24 to 12-31
REGULAR BUSINESS
1. Begin deliberations: Critical Areas Ordinance
a. Greg Ballard provides an overview of changes to Critical Area
Ordinance Documents, including a review of public testimony
received.
PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Marla Powers from the Port Gamble S’Klallam expresses concern in the
differentiation between fish bearing and non-fish bearing streams in the
Critical Areas Ordinance. She shares that the tribe recommends streams have
a 200 foot buffer regardless of stream type. She also adds that there are
multiple ways to reduce the buffers and expresses concern that there is no
minimum amount set for the reductions and that leaves the possibility of
reducing the buffer down to zero. She recommends a limit of one reduction
and limiting that reduction to 25%.
2. Joe Holtrop provides comment that Greg Ballard has done a nice job of taking
public comments and improving clarity in the documents. He states that it is a
great product.
3. Steve Mader provides thanks to Greg Ballard for making the
recommendations of the public heard. He also states that it is a great
product.
• Greg responds to Marla Powers’ concerns on buffers and stream
differentiation.
• Commissioner Sircely expresses concerns about the chemicals used in
agriculture and their effects on the environment.
• Chair Koan checks in with Planning Commissioners to see if they feel
prepared to vote.
• Commissioner Schultz recommends changes to Article I in regard to
the list of invasive plans examples. His suggested changes are
recorded in the document.
• Commissioner Sunny (Allen) asks for additional clarification on Marla
Powers’ presented issue from Greg Ballard. A brief discussion is held
to clarify.
• Chair Koan asks the Planning Commissioners if they feel prepared to
vote this evening. Planning Commissioners report they are prepared
to vote. Chair Koan asks for a motion to approve the Critical Areas
Ordinance changes. Commissioner Coker moves to approve the
Critical Areas Ordinance Changes and Commissioner Richert seconds
the motion. Chair Koan asks for all voting in favor to please raise their
hands both in the room and over Zoom. All Commissioners vote in
favor of approving the changes to the Critical Areas Ordinance and the
motion passes unanimously.
NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT: Chair Koan adjourned the meeting at 06:36 p.m. until the
next regular meeting or special meeting as properly noticed.
The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for February 4th at 5:30p.m. at the WSU
Extension Classroom.
These meeting minutes were approved this ___________ day of _____ 2026.
Cynthia Koan, Chair Tonya Flores Cruz, PC Clerk