HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Mtg Minutes 2015-02-04621 Sheridan St.
Port Townsend WA 98368
ROLL CALL
District 1
Coker: Present
Felder: Present
Cynthia Koan: Present
Public in Attendance:
Approval of Aeenda:
Approval of Minutes:
STAFF UPDATES
Comprehensive Plan
Carl Smith:
Kevin Coker:
Jefferson County Planning Commission
MEETING MINUTES
Tri-Area Community Center
February 4, 2015
Call to Order at 6:30 pm
Staff Present
P: 360-379-4450
F: 360-r9-4451
plancomm a co.3efferson.wa.us
District 2
Smith: Present
Farmer: Present
Sircely: Present
District 3
Brotherton: Prese nt
Giske: Present
Carl Smith, DCD Director
Hull: Present
Approximately 29
Colleen Zmolek, DCD Associate Planner
Elizabeth Williams, DCD Administrative Clerk
Chairman, Kevin Coker moved to approve the Agenda.
None drafted.
The update to our Comprehensive Plan has been approved for an extension until 2018. The new
updated calendar showing our timeline is provided in the materials, with an expected adoption
date at the end of 2016 .
Many PC members were at the BOCC meeting.
PROPOSED MARIJUANA REGULATIONS
Tom Brotherton:
Carl Smith:
Tom Giske:
Patricia Farmer:
Tom Giske:
Matt Sircely:
Patricia Farmer:
Kevin Coker:
Carl Smith, DCD director:
Disclosed his ownership of Sea Change Cannabis, a recreational marijuana retail establishment
in Discovery Bay.
The BOCC did not take action on an extension to extend the moratorium on 02/02/15. The
moratorium will expire on 02/11/2015 if the BOCC does not take action at the next scheduled
meeting.
The subcommittee created goals and objectives regarding to marijuana regulations.
1. Protect the quality of life of residents from traffic, noise and light.
2. To ensure large production a nd processing operations do not introduce traffic or other
hazards.
3. To minimize the financial impact to land owners and neighbors.
Some objectives were considered but removed, as they do not pertain to marijuana or are
regulated by other agencies:
1. Safety as it relates to hazards from traffic and explosions
2. Children as it relates to managing playgrounds and other similar facilities.
3. Fear, as it relates to smell and crime.
4. Environmental harm, as it relates to water, chemical and waste disposal.
Would like to consider restrictions on water use.
Other agencies are responsible for water restrictions. Our report is not intended to restrict
discussion.
Believes many concerns are already addressed in the cottage industry section of the code or the
state's regulations of pesticides. The subcommittee report re-confirms that.
Would prefer to wait to vote until the end of the meeting.
Would prefer to view the written report, revise as necessary, and vote to adopt at the next
meeting.
Would like to discuss the three options that staff has provided.
Option 1 is no action. Option 2 is banning marijuana in all rural residential. Option 3 is to allow
marijuana is residentia l zones with some restrictions.
Two commissioners are in favor of treating all agriculture with the same standard.
Pag( 1 of 4
011 Sheridan St.
Port Townsend WA 98308
Cynthia Koan:
Carl Smith:
Kevin Coker:
Gary Felder:
Matt Sircely:
Colleen Zmolek, planner:
Carl Smith:
Colleen Zmolek:
Patricia Farmer:
Carl Smith:
Colleen Zmolek:
Matt Sircely:
Richard Hull:
Colleen Zmolek:
Kevin Coker:
Jefferson County Planning Commission
MEETING MINUTES
Tri-Area Community Center
February 4 , 2015
P: ;360-379-4450
F: 360-3"'"9-44')1
pbn~t)!"'"'1 ~~ .y•f'erSI"'' ,_.. us
Spoke with the state Children's Services in order to provide a response to claims that daycares
may not be placed within 1,000 ft of marijuana facilities. The licensor was unable to confirm or
invalidate these claims. There is not enough information to provide recommendations.
Preferred Philip Morley's suggestion at the last BOCC meeting to extend the moratorium WITH
CONDITIONS.
Perhaps take a vote on deciding whether or not Planning Commission members feel marijuana
is a distinctly different crop.
Motioned to vote marijuana as a distinctly different crop from other agriculture.
8 in favor. 1 opposed. 0 abstained.
Opposed to considering marijuana as a distinctly different crop. WA State is considering
approving industrial hemp. Will we be regulating that differently as well?
Considers industrial hemp a traditional crop.
The WSLCB has not suggested that they intend to regulate industrial hemp.
Traffic held to LOS
Option 3 requires a parcel to be at least 1 acre.
5,000 s.f. structures still sound rather large.
The 5,000 s.f. size restriction is currently within our Cottage Industry regulations.
The WSLCB already has many restrictions, along with the Cottage Industry regulations that
apply for marijuana processing.
Frustrated with the redundancy and the speed at which PC decisions are moving.
Option 2 solves all concerns that residents have, including unknown concerns.
We approved the industrial park at the airport. Glen Cove has Industrial zones. We have
agricultural lands. Farmers said we have more land than farmers. I see no reason why marijuana
grows need to be in residential at all.
If the Board takes no action, applicants will walk into our office and apply for permits and
become vested.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Gary Johnson:
Kevin Coker:
Jim McCrae :
Frank Hoffman:
Jean Ball:
Margie Boyd:
Colum Tinley:
Introduced himself as an I-502 applicant. Frustration with listening to questions and unable to
discuss them aloud.
The BOCC has shown interest in working with the Planning Commission in a workshop setting.
Property owner in Quilcene area. Unaware of any WA regulations limiting daycares.
The PC sounds as though they are trying to establish whether or not recreational marijuana is
legal.
My attorney advised that the 1,000 ft buffer is imposed for marijuana businesses, not daycares.
There is an extensive list of allowed pesticides by the state. Any not listed are prohibited.
Leaving my property to conduct business is a hardship. These lands are considered working
lands, not postage-stamp city lots. The fence and security cameras are meant for prevention of
diversion, not theft. 8' fences are erected for vegetable gardens and to keep out dee r. This is not
uncommon. Security cameras are an asset, a tool for law enforcement, a diversion for potential
criminal activity.
Perhaps we should figure out how many industrial parcels there actually are, rather than
estimate. Get legal advice on vested versus non-vested. Encouraged PC members to urge the
BOCC to provide you additional time.
On page 23, WSLCB has a list of acceptable pesticides. Medical marijuana may possibly be
combined with state recreational marijuana regulations. Why not require a conditional use
permit for growers in order to evaluate each grower on a base by base basis.
Page 2 of ,
021 Sheridan St.
I' rt ·1 "n~Pnd WA 98308
Steve Ramsey:
Sharon Hall :
Falisha Allen:
Carl Smith, director:
Jefferson County Planning Commission
MEETING MINUTES
Tri-Area Community Center
February 4, 2015
p. 360 379 4450
F. 360-379-4451
fferson"' ·~
Agrees with Col um Tinley's suggestion. Current JCC does not require a permit for growers. It is
not currently sufficient. Marijuana is still illegal unde r fe d e ra l law. Pleased to hear that the PC is
not a "creature of the BOCC" but instead a "creature of the code".
Not a neighbor of an applicant. Howeve r, would rather have p igs versus marijuana n ext door.
Lives on Egg & I Rd . near a proposed marijuana facility. Concerned for quality of life, as the
properties are in WRIA 17. Went to a convention and met with Robert Reynolds, WSLCB
enforcement officer. Inquired about water issues and Mr. Reynold's responded that it was not
within their agencies' jurisdiction. Believes there is lack of communication between agencies.
When WSLCB requests comments from DCD about a marijuana applicant, DCD forwards the
request for comment to Jefferson County Environmental Health, WA Dept of Ecology (DOE) and
the Olympic Regional Clean Air Agency (ORCAA).
Karen Crouse: There is no way to enforce
Charlie Bermant: Commissioner Johnson stated that clarifying what a cottage industry is important.
Colleen Zmolek: It is clear. He may be looking in another section.
Kevin Coker, PC chairman:It was a scale and intensity of what a cottage indus try is may need to be redefined .
Liz Moore: Neighbor of an applicant. No one has addressed how it will affect property values .
Kevin Coker: It was in the subcommittee report has minimizing financial im pacts to adjacent property
John English:
Steve Fetter:
owners.
The culmination of my work is in my home. I consider mysel f "vested". I feel the County should
protect that. The s tatic head is 14 ft. It could become contaminated. Moved into an area with
CC&R's for a reason. Glad to be a NIMBY (Not in my backyard).
Moved to JC eight years ago. When he hears what peopl e are facing, feels as though he dodged a
bullet since he purchased in city of PT. Believes there can possibly be a thriving marijuana
business. Do not structure the county to be more appealing to this industry. Righ t now, having
a neighbor with a pig may not be so bad, but when every neighbor has a pig farm, you may not
be so happy.
PROPOSED MARIJUANA REGULATIONS
Kevin Coker:
Carl Smith:
Tom Brotherton:
Kevin Coker:
Colleen Zmolek, planner :
Lorna Smith:
Tom Brotherton:
Carl Smith, DCD direc tor:
Lorna Smith:
Colleen Zmolek:
Carl Smith:
Lorna Smith:
Cynthia Koan:
Tom Giske:
Tom Brotherton:
Trying to create something legally defens ible. I would like to know if we can s ee what current
regulations are. Industrial hemp needs to be addressed . Through WSLCB regulations and
insurance regulations, issues like processing hazards are covered. We need it identified.
We do not have the expertise.
MRSC assists municipalities and counties with legal issues.
For a fence p e rmit, does anyone review the w a ter availability?
We do not currently forward a fence permit
That is the applicants' responsibility.
When an applicant drills a well, DOE receives the application and advises them of their allotted
amount for use and at times monitoring takes place.
DCD does NOT confirm if an applicant has acquired a pproval from other agencies.
Citizens would be notified?
All Conditional Use permits require notification.
We can control size and setbacks, but we have no way of knowing whether something will affect
the property value. Our Comprehensive Plan is our guide.
We eliminated any preference for the "do nothing" option.
Marijuana has always been produced in the county. Would like the BOCC to extend the
moratorium. I'm not ready to provide a recommendation. None of the 3 options address
residential next to industrial.
Moved to approve a message to the BOCC to extend the moratorium to a ll ow the PC more time
to finish their recommendations and d e livered by the Chairman.
That's not our job to advise the BOCC to extend the moratorium.
a 3 '4
621 Shendan St.
P rt o\\ n~Pnd \\'A 98308
Tom Giske:
Patricia Farmer:
Matt Sircely:
Kevin Coker:
Jefferson County Planning Commission
MEETING MINUTES
Tri-Area Community Center
February 4, 2015 nl .,
P: J6o 3 9 -4450
I' 360-379-4401
"
Recalled a time when Tom Brotherton put a motion on the table to request the BOCC extend
time to the PC for the Critical Areas Ordinance.
Interested in the Conditional Use permit process. Carl may forward the message, doesn't need
to be anything formal.
Doesn't feel it's appropriate to request more time as there are applicants waiting.
Every Planning Commission member is welcome to individually attend the BOCC and provide
public comment as we ask members of the public to do.
Next Planning Commission meeting scheduled for 03/04/2015 at 6:30 pm at the Tri-Area Community Center.
Adjourned at 9:03 pm
e were approved this l{fl.,
Williams, PC Secretary /DCD Administrative Clerk