HomeMy WebLinkAbout011116_ca01Consent Agenda
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
Philip Morley, County Administrator
FROM: David Goldsmith, Interim Director Y�
Joel Peterson, Associate Planner
DATE: January 11, 2016
RE: Direction to DCD Staff to Prepare Draft Ordinance Amending the
Sign Code JCC 18.30.150, and to Prepare Notice for BoCC Public
Hearing on February 1, 2016.
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on November 4, 2015, regarding proposed
text for a Board -sponsored amendment to the Unified Development Code at JCC 18.30.150 to
broaden the applicability of readerboard/changing message signs for public purpose entities.
The Planning Commission and Department of Community Development made changes to the
proposed text to increase workability and to be responsive to comments received. Any new
text requires subsequent public review and hearing.
ANALYSIS:
A draft ordinance will be made available for review and a 10 -day Public Notice will be
prepared for publication in the paper of record on January 20, 2016. A public hearing will be
scheduled for the Regular Agenda on February 1, 2016 regarding the proposed text changes.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact from conducting the hearing.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Consent Agenda item and thereby direct DCD staff to draft an ordinance and hold
public hearing on proposed amendments to the sign code, JCC 18.30.150.
Consent Agenda
DEPARTMENT CONTACT:
Joel Peterson, Associate Planner, 379-4457
REVIEWED BY:
hilip n y mmistrator Date
5°N JEFFERSON COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
$ 621 Sheridan Street I Port Townsend, WA 98368 1 Web: www.co.iefferson.wa.us/communitydevelopment
Tel: 360.379.44501 Fax: 360.379.4451 1 Email: dcd(c�co.iefferson.wa.us
Building Permits & Inspections I Development Consistency Review I Long Range Planning I Watershed Stewardship Resource Center
TO: Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader [legals@ptleader.com]
RE: LEGAL NOTICE - Please publish in 7 -point font
Please publish one (1) time: Wednesday, January 20, 2016
BILL: Jefferson County Department of Community Development
621 Sheridan St
Port Townsend WA 98368
Customer #: 17385
Today's DATE: Friday, January 15, 2016
NOTICE OF INTENT TO AMEND THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
RELATING TO PROPOSED AMENDMENT IN APPLICATION MLA15-00063
AND
NOTICE OF FEBRUARY 1, 2016 PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE
JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ON
PROPOSED UDC AMENDMENT
Pursuant to the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) and State
Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), Jefferson County is integrating GMA/SEPA
procedures per WAC 197-11-210 through 197-11-235, relative to a proposed
amendment to the Jefferson County Code (JCC). Jefferson County has
determined that it is the appropriate SEPA lead agency for the proposal. Adoption
of a JCC amendment through this action would be a Non -Project Action under
SEPA, Chapter 43.21 C RCW.
Summary of Proposed Changes: To make a countywide amendment within
Jefferson County's Unified Development Code (UDC), JCC Title 18, to JCC
18.30.150 Sign Code to allow electronic changing message and reader
board -type signs for governmental entities on government-owned property
in all zoning districts, through a Type III Conditional Use Permit approval
process; and to allow this type of governmental sign to be located closer
than 200 feet to a residential or open space zone, through a Type III
Conditional Use Permit (C) approval process. Also the proposed changes
would allow non-governmental signs, when placed in an allowed
commercial or industrial district, to be closer than 200 feet to a residential or
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open space zone, through a Type 11 Conditional Discretionary Use Permit
(C(d)) approval process.
Applicant: This is a Board -sponsored amendment proposal per JCC 18.45.090.
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on November 4, 2015 and made
recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. The Board has made
minor changes to the recommendations and is requesting additional public
comment. The changes do not affect the SEPA threshold determination.
GMA Notice: The 60 -day Notice of Intent to Amend the Jefferson County
Development Regulations was circulated on October 21, 2015 per WAC 365-196-
620 to State agencies responsible for reviewing proposed amendments to
comprehensive plans and/or County Development Regulations.
SEPA Determination: The proposed amendment has been reviewed under SEPA
as a Non -project Action involving decisions on policies, plans, or programs (WAC
197-11-704). The Department of Community Development (DCD) has assumed
the responsibility of Lead Agency under SEPA, has reviewed the proposed project
for probable significant adverse environmental impacts and issued a Mitigated
Determination of Non -Significance (MDNS) on October 21, 2015 under WAC 197-
11-340(2) and pursuant to WAC 197-11-350(5). The comment period on the
SEPA Threshold Determination closed November 4, 2015. No comments were
received regarding the threshold determination and the MDNS is retained.
Additional mitigation measures were specified as a result of public comments and
additional agency planning.
Mitigation measures include provisions already in JCC 18.30.150 Sign Code for
Commercial and Light Industrial zones where electronic readerboard/changing
message signs are currently allowed, including the times -of -day allowed for
illumination, regulation of the intensity of light emitted from the sign, and distance
restrictions to residential or open -space parcels. Added mitigation measures
proposed include narrowing the original definition of Public Purpose facilities to
reduce the applicability of readerboard/changing message signs in non-
commercial/industrial districts and thereby reducing cumulative adverse impacts
of readerboard/changing message sign installations in those zoning districts.
Additional site-specific mitigation measures will be considered with sign proposals
by applying a Conditional Use Permit (C) review process (public hearing &
Hearing Examiner decision) to consider public input and site-specific impacts
before placement of a readerboard/changing message sign by a government
entity in or near a non-commercial/industrial zoned district. Similarly, for
installation of electronic signs by non-governmental entities when placed in an
allowed commercial or industrial district, if closer than 200 feet to residential or
open space zoned areas, site-specific mitigation measures would be considered
through a Conditional Discretionary Use Permit (C(d)) review process (public
notice and comment, administrative decision).
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A copy of the threshold determination for the specific proposal may be obtained
upon request.
Jefferson County Board of Commissioners Public Hearing: NOTICE IS
HEREBY GIVEN that the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners will hold a
public hearing on Monday, February 1, 2016 at 10:15 a.m. in the
Commissioners' Chambers, located at the Courthouse, Port Townsend,
Washington to take oral and written comment on the proposed amendment to the
Sign Code before making a final legislative decision on whether to adopt the
proposed amendment.
Public Comment Period: The Department of Community Development and the
Board of County Commissioners are accepting general comments on the merits of
the suggested amendment to the Sign Code. Written/oral testimony will be
accepted through the close of the Public Hearing on Monday, February 1, 2016.
The Board may take final action after the close of the public hearing. Written
comments on the proposal may be submitted to the Department of Community
Development, Attn. MLA15-00063, 621 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA
98368 or via email to ieffbocc(a�co.jefferson.wa.us.
Availability of Documents: For more information or to inspect or request copies
of the original application, proposed amendment, adopted existing environmental
documents or the Staff Report and Recommendation, contact DCD Associate
Planner Joel Peterson at (360) 379-4450, or visit the Department of Community
Development webpage, http://www.co.iefferson.wa.us/commdevelopment and
follow the link to Public Notices.
Signed this 11th day of January, 2016
Kathleen Kier, Chair
Jefferson County Board of Commissioners
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