HomeMy WebLinkAbout050126 - PRESS RELEASE Planning for a Livable Future_ Jefferson County’s Updated Comprehensive PlanGood afternoon,
Jefferson County is updating its Comprehensive Plan to respond to community needs and goals related to housing, climate, economic development, parks and recreation, utilities, and transportation.
The updated plan will help guide land use and zoning, foster conditions for housing diversity and affordability, steward natural resources and the environment, and plan for projected
population growth by the year 2045. The County is also proposing focused code changes to support middle housing opportunities in the Irondale Port Hadlock Urban Growth Area.
Consistent with the Growth Management Act, this update to the County’s Comprehensive Plan sets a long‑range framework to guide growth and development over the next 20 years. The plan
is reviewed every 10 years, with opportunities for limited annual amendments. It outlines the community’s vision through goals, policies, and actions that guide everyday decision‑making
by County leaders and staff.
The current draft is the culmination of nearly two years of engagement and collaboration. It reflects input and feedback from community listening sessions, individual comments and suggestions,
and the work of the Jefferson County Planning Commission has convened 28 times to focus on this project since its start in 2024. In addition to incorporating community feedback, the
plan addresses numerous state legislative amendments made in the last few years to update the Growth Management Act and address issues including housing and climate resilience.
Jefferson County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to take oral and written comments on the Hearing Draft on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 5:30 PM at the Jefferson County
Transit Authority Administration Office, 63 Four Corners Road, Port Townsend, WA, and remotely at https://bit.ly/JEFFCOWAPC; Meeting ID: 959 9899 4925; Passcode: 306246. Written comments
will be accepted thru May 15 at 2025compplan@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:2025compplan@co.jefferson.wa.us> .
Key Dates:
• May 13 – Public Hearing with Jefferson County’s Planning Commission
• May 15 – End of Public Comment Period
* May 27 – Jefferson County’s Planning Commission Deliberation and Recommendation
* June 8 –Board of County Commissioners Morning Workshop on Comp Plan (9:30 AM)
* June 8 – Notice of Public Hearing will be distributed
* June 22 – Board of County Commissioners Hearing on Comp Plan (10:30 AM)
* July 6 – Board of County Commissioners Final Action on Comp Plan (tentative)
Jeremy Williammee, Department of Community Development Director shared, “We are grateful for the hard work that continues to go into this plan. Associate Planner Joel Peterson, the Planning
Commission, and community members have all contributed thoughtful insight throughout the process so far. I want to thank everyone for their ongoing engagement as we work toward a more
affordable, sustainable, and livable future for Jefferson County’s working families and future generations.”
More information on the updates to the Comprehensive Plan can be found at: https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/1708/2025-Periodic-Update <https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/1708/2025-Periodic-Update?fbclid=Iw
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For more information, visit our website at: Planning for a Livable Future: Jefferson County’s Updated Comprehensive Plan • Jefferson County, WA <https://co.jefferson.wa.us/m/newsflash/home/detail/172
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Thank you,
Liz Anderson
Communications Specialist
Jefferson County
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