HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Mtg Minutes 04-16-14 FINALJEFFERSON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
621 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368
(360) 379-4450 PlanComm@::o.jefferson.wa.us
www .co .jefferson.wa.us/commdevelopment/PlanningCommission
JOINT CITY /COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP
MEETING MINUTES FOR APRIL 16, 2014
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CALL TO ORDER: 1:37PM
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ROLL c ALL
Jefferson County Planning Commissioners
Distri ct J District 2 District 3
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Coker Felder Miller Smith Farmer Sircely Brotherton G1ske Hull
p p p p p p AE LATE AE
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P=Present, X=Vacant, AE=Absent Excused, AU=Absent Unexcused
City of Port Townsend Planning Commissioners
Mick-Hager Frick Nicholson Range Bhansali Heckscher Evans
-Present Present Absent Present Absent Absent Present
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Jefferson County DCD Staff Present: Invited Guests:
• Carl Smith, DCD Director • Judy Surber,
• Stacie Hoskins, Planning Manager City of Port Townsend Planning Manager
• Zoe Ann Lamp, Associate Planner • Cindy Jayne,
• Elizabeth Williams, Plan Clerk Climate Action Committee member
• Brian Goldstein,
Public in Attendance: 9 Climate Action Committee member,
Former Resource Conservation Manager to City &
County/PT & Chimacum School Districts
• Samantha Thomas,
Leads the L2020 transportation group,
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Project Manager for Walkable Livable Communities Institute
TRA NS POR TA TI O N ELEM EN T
Stacie Hoskins: Discussed a possible future study of the Quimper area, a need for a
1:40pm travel demand assessment, and a review of the 6-year transportation
improvement plan and the Active Transportation plan (former Non-
Motorized Transportation & Recreational Trails Plan)
Judy Surber: Suggested considering the cost of long-term maintenance of the
1:43pm Pleasant Harbor Master Planned Resort roadways, while updating the
Comprehensive Plan.
C LIMA TE CHANGE
Zoe Ann Lamp: The Comprehensive Plan does not currently address climate change.
1:45pm The City of Port Townsend and Jefferson County adopted the joint
Climate Action Plan in 2007 which intends to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions as much as 80% of 1990 levels by 2050. Jefferson County
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Judy Surber:
1:53pm
Cindy Jayne:
2:03pm
Jefferson County Planning Comm1ss1on Wor kshop M in utes
intends to incorporate WA state CAP expectations and adaptations
related to climate change into the Comprehensive Plan Update.
The Climate Action Committee meets quarterly and is open to the
public.
WA state funding was awarded to the North Olympic Peninsula
Resource, Conservation, and Development, which covers both Clallam
and Jefferson County and can be used for incorporating climate
chanQe adaptation into the ComQrehensive Plan.
Presented MS PowerPoint slideshow and discussed current science
regarding expected climate changes, including expected air
temperature increases, ocean acidification, and changes in sea levels.
The impacts included potential negative impacts on marine species,
infrastructure, and forestry.
The grant status was discussed and the slideshow suggested
opportunities to include infrastructure planning and restoration projects.
Mr. Tom Giske joined the workshop at 2:13 pm
Brian Goldstein: Presented MS PowerPoint slides how which included energy conservation
2:13 pm measures for the housing, commercial, and government sectors and
considerations for different Comprehensive Plan updates.
K. Coker suggested possible induction lighting for street light
replacement.
An unnamed citizen questioned why local government had not
considered wind energy as a possible energy alternative.
B. Goldstein stated that an energy assessment would be necessary and
that there were too many regulations as far as height and safety were
concerned.
K. Coker also suggested Honeywell rooftop wind turbines. B. Goldstein
again reiterated that there were too many safety issues.
J. Surber explained that the area did not receive enough wind necessary
to produce energy and that expenses were high in order to install the
turbine to the required height.
D. Frick stated that the Puget Sound Energy rebate payout for the
ductless heat system that he had installed in his home were worth the
costs.
T. Giske asked how to begin the task of updating the County's
Comprehensive Plan.
C. Smith responded that community acceptance and the lack of
County resources needs to be considered when updating the
Comprehensive Plan.
S. Hoskins voiced that climate change impacts at both a local and
international level need to be assessed.
L. Smith agreed that retrofitting would the best "bang for your buck"
B. Goldstein informed that Seattle requires registering utility costs for all
buildings at 5,000 s.f. or larger.
M. Sircely suggested not to disregard solar energy, as depending on the
size of the project, can have a payoff in a matter of a few years. It is also
an excellent incentive for low income families.
An unnamed citizen stated that fossil fuel vs. electric heating are the
largest hurdles to conquer.
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J ff e erson ounry ann1ng omm1ss1on C t PI c o r s op Ml nu e s w kh . t
Samantha Thomas: Presented a PowerPoint presentation on "Transportation and
2:46pm Comprehensive Plans", which provided various examples of other
walkable communities.
T. Giske advised considering how Portland used their Saturday Market as
a focal point
M. Sircely also mentioned that Jefferson County did not provide
transportation to many of the rural areas and that he would prefer to
commute his few necessary trips a month to Seattle by bus.
S. Thomas stated that Kauai, Hawaii had received funds from FEMA.
These grants primarily fund climate change adaptation methods. It is an
avenue to consider pursuing in the way of funding.
OBSER V ER C O MMENTS
Bonnie McDaniel, Submitted a letter regarding her concerns of Pleasant Harbor Master
Quilcene Planned Resort, including future increased traffic and need for
3:30pm emergency services due to motor vehicle accidents.
Todd Wexman , Voiced his disapproval of Pleasant Harbor Resort.
Port Townsend
3 :37pm
Samantha Thomas , Encouraged County to work with W A Department of Transportation and
L2020 transportation other state agencies .
group
3 :40pm
Rick Jahnice, Encouraged the City and County to collaborate with outside agencies,
Port Townsend such as Jefferson County PUD , as they have started meetings to
3 :42pm implement their plans regarding energy conservation .
R. Yonke also suggested working jointly with Jefferson Healthcare and
Jefferson Transit in regards to alternative transportation, as many citizens
need access to schools and healthcare via transit and we need to
encourage service to more areas.
Jim Todd , Consider implementing stiff pedestrian safety regulations regarding
Port Townsend bicycles in sidewalks when updating the Comprehensive Plan.
3:45pm
Frank Hoffman , Impressed with the presentations. He expressed the importance of
Port Townsend engaging with elected officials rather than overwhelming with angry
3:50pm controversy.
Patricia Farmer, Stated that she echoed the comments of Mr. Hoffman in working
JC Planning Commission together towards policies.
3 :51pm
Lorna Smith , Stated that she has worked in the planning field for most of her careers .
JC Planning Commission Expressed disappointment that we have not yet moved forward with any
3 :52pm of the ideas shared at meetings. She stated the ideas were in no way
new or innovative.
Kevin Coker, Would like an updated schedule for next year regarding future joint and
JC Planning Commission outreach meetings
3:55pm
Tom Giske , Appreciated the example of Richmond, CA's Comprehensive Plan
JC Planning Commission provided by Samantha in the PowerPoint presentation, which is
3:56pm separated into four basic elements in order to make the Plan more
feasible.
31 P age
Nan Evans,
PT Planning Commission
3:59pm
Lorna Smith,
JC Planning Commission
4:00pm
Jefferson C ounty Plann1n g Comm1ss1on Works h o p M inutes
C. Smith reiterated the lack of resources and staff in order to update the
Comprehensive Plan.
T. Giske suggested forming a small group to do the work, rather than
County staff.
K. Coker replied that DCD can bring forth any issues or request time and
Planning Commission members can recommend County Commissioners
to designate time for DCD staff to complete such work.
T. Giske stated that he would prefer we spend time on what we consider
important rather than on WA mandated policies and codes.
Would prefer being creative in order to find solutions that would still meet
state requirements.
Suggested forming small citizen groups
Next Joint Workshop: 1:30pm on 05/07/2014 at Port Townsend City Hall Council Chambers.
Agenda: Education and Economic Development, Sustainability of local food.
WORKSHOP ADJOURNED: 4:02 PM
Approval of Minutes
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These meeting minutes were approved this_--"",_{ __ day of--.&.'(---+----' 2014.
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Kevin Coker, Chair Carl Smith, DCD Director
41P ag e
To Jefferson County Transportation Planning
Re: Pleasant Harbor Resort
Joint Workshop, April 16, 2014
The materials sent in advance, and being presented at this meeting, recognize the need
for transportation study and planning for new development
The Ordinance approving the Pleasant Harbor EIS also mandates such planning; the EIS
for the resort presents a general concept but the ordinance further requires a
development agreement and zoning code must be developed as a subsequent phase.
The County is thus charged with the very important task of ensuring that all impacts of
the development are known and addressed in the development agreement. This, of
course, includes traffic and transportation.
There are major concerns as to traffic/transportation, including:
-The data used by the developer's consultant, Michael Read, in the EIS was out
of date when the EIS was approved in 2008 (data going back to 2000) and is
greatly more out of date now.)
-That vehicle emissions are one of the largest sources of pollution in the Hood
Canal. Environmental damage from the increased traffic needs to be fully
investigated and taken into account in any development agreement.
-Accurate planning is needed for a massive increase in traffic (at least 4,100
extra trips per day during the summer) and costs of it should be assessed to the
developer rather than the taxpayer.
-Accurate planning must include a realistic look at how many people will be
traveling to the resort and the routes they are expected to travel. Without
requiring accurate information from the developer and and appropriate
requirements being made by the county in the development agreement, the
county will be neglecting its duties.
-The minimization of the number of car trips by the developer's assumption that
a certain percentage of guests will take a resort provided shuttle from Sea Tac
and back seems very unlikely as most visitors to the Olympic Peninsula will
want a car to travel to other areas on the Olympic Peninsula.
-The developer's assumption that visitors to the resort would travel to and from
over the Hood Canal Bridge is both unlikely and resulted in a total lack of data
on impact coming and going via Olympia. (Traveling to the resort would be
easier from SeaTac via Olympia (no downtown Seattle and ferry, etc) and
many would likely travel that route).
-There is a deadly curve south of the Black Point entrance with s ight distance
problems from both the north and south.
-Highway 101 along Hood Canal already has increased traffic in the summer,
fatalities and collisions are already a serious problem. The increase in traffic
congestion due to the resort will only make it worse.
-The traffic study in the EIS is greatly flawed as it was limited to looking at just
collisions at intersections on Highway 1 01. Most collisions and fatalities on
that highway do not happen at intersections. An increased stream of traffic
will also impact local residents in turning onto and off of 101 from driveways
and county roads, increasing their collision/fatality risk.
Accurate traffic data as to both passenger vehicles and for commerce is needed.
Logging trucks, chip trucks, and delivery trucks travel 101, there was no
mention of such commercial traffic in the developer's transportation study. It
would be expected that increased traffic a lone would impact the stream of
traffic; collisions/fatalities already result in many hours of delay for traffic.
_ Accurate and up to date traffic information from the developer needs to be
required from the developer that includes collisions and fatalities at all
points, not just intersections, and also the cost of emergency services and
collision and fatality investigations. The developer should bear the cost of the
increased services rather than the taxpayer.
-Accurate and up to date traffic data should be required from the developer and
a plan for mitigation of the traffic problems we have identified.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Moore Lewis for The Brinnon Group
Bonnie McDaniel, Quilcene