HomeMy WebLinkAbout120814_ca08TO:
FROM
DATE:
Consent Agenda
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
Board of County Commissioners
Philip Morley, County Administrator
Carl Smith, Director, Department of Community Development (DCD
December 8, 2014
SUBJECT: Comprehensive Plan Update Deadline Extension
Attachments:
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
The County's current deadline for adopting an updated GMA comprehensive plan is June 30, 2016. Due to low
population growth since 2006, the County qualifies for an extension to 2018. DCD recommends taking
advantage of this extension opportunity.
ANALYSIS:
Pursuant to RCW 36.70A.130 (6)(b), counties with less than 50,000 population and that experienced a
population growth of less than 17% during the 10 years preceding their comp plan update deadline have an
additional two years to complete and adopt their updated comp plans and consistent development regulations.
Jefferson County meets this criteria, as population growth during this period (including projections for 2015 and
2016) is projected to be 8.6 %, according to the mid - population range estimate by the Office of Financial
Management (OFM).
The County was reminded of this opportunity in a letter dated September 29, 2014, from the Department of
Commerce, Growth Management Services (attached). Staff of the County's Department of Community
Development would like to take advantage of this extension for several reasons; including allowing more
opportunity for involvement by the Planning Commission and members of the public. Additionally, the extension
will provide greater ability for DCD staff to balance their workloads. To formally document our intention to take
advantage of the extension, it is requested that the Board sign a letter to this effect. A draft letter for this
purpose is attached.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve and sign a letter to the Department of Commerce, Growth Management Services, indicating the
County's intention to accept the two year extension, up to June 30, 2018, to adopt an updated GMA
comprehensive plan and consistent development regulations.
REVIEWED BY:
P orley, Co my dministrat�
Date
leVY1Y
December 8, 2014 (DRAFT)
Jeffery S. Stewart, AICP
Senior Managing Director
Growth Management Services
Department of Commerce
1011 Plum Street SE, P.O. Box 98504 -2525
Dear Mr. Stewart:
Thank you for your letter of September 29, 2014, informing us of a new deadline of June 30,
2018 to complete our GMA comprehensive plan update. The County would like to take
advantage of this extension, although our intention will be to complete the update process prior
to the new deadline.
The additional time will be beneficial in several ways, such as providing more opportunities for
involvement during the update process by the public, Planning Commission and the Board of
County Commissioners. It will also allow our Community Development Department staff to
better manage their heavy workloads to accomplish the update as well as other important work
for our community.
To document our qualification for this extension, on the following page are population
projections prepared by the State Office of Financial Management for Jefferson County between
the years 2006 -2016. According to OFM, the total County population increase during that time
period is projected to be: 1,971, representing an 6.8% population growth. This is well below the
threshold of 17% established in RCW 36.70A.130.
Jefferson County looks forward to continued close coordination with your office on our GMA
comprehensive plan update process.
Sincerely,
John Austin, President, Board of County Commissioners
David Sullivan, Commissioner
Phil Johnson, Commissioner
c: Philip Morley, County Administer
Carl Smith, Community Development Director
Joyce Philips, Senior Planner, Dept of Commerce
Washington Office of Financial Management
Estimates of April 1 Population for Jefferson County
2006
2016
Estimate of Total
Estimate of Total
Estimated Population
Estimated %
Population
Population
Increase
Increase
28,847
30,818
1,971
6.8
Source: OFM 2014 (Assumes mid -range forecast)
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STATE OF WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
1011 Plum Street SE • PO Box 42525 • Olympia, Washington 98504 -2525 - (360) 725.4000
www.comme,-ce.wa.gov
September 29, 2014
The Honorable John Austin
Jefferson County Commissioner
Post Office Box 1220
Port Townsend, Washington 98368
RE: Technical Help for Your Community from Commerce
Dear Commissioner Austin:
You may have heard more recent about the upcoming update deadlines in the Growth
Management Act (GMA). The GMA requires each city and county in the state is required to
undertake this review process every eight (8) years, as outlined in the GMA (RCW 36.70A.130).
Your statutory deadline is June 30, 2016. However, smaller and slower growing communities
have an additional two years to complete the update. Based on your current size and rate of
growth, you will likely qualify for this extension again. Your deadline with the extension will
occur June 30, 2018.
We have assigned Joyce Phillips of our staff Nvho will be contacting you to verify the status of
your periodic update and provide any assistance we can offer with the update process or other
development priorities for your community. They can be reached at (360) 725 -3045 OR
joyce.phillips@commerce.wa.gov.
gards,
Jeffery S. Wilson, AICP
Senior Managing Director
Growth Management Services
cc: Al Scarf, Director and Chief Building Official
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