HomeMy WebLinkAbout49 HigginsNOV 1 2 2019
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Jefferson County Planning Commission
621 Sheridan Street
Port Townsend, Wa. 98368
Dear Planning Commissioners:
It is distressing to residents who live in Jefferson County for its slow paced peacefulness,
forests, fish and wildlife that this insidious proposed weapons training facility is planned to be
built 1 % miles from our homes. Not only does it impact Tarboo lake, a salmon bearing creek,
and all the forest, farms and ecosystem in the surrounding area, the noise pollution alone would
be intolerable and unhealthy for all concerned. How awful it will be .... we would never be able to
enjoy yardwork, gardening, walking on our property along Snow Creek, bird -watching, napping
in the hammock to the tune of birds singing, or eating dinner on our back deck in the afternoon
sun. Our retirement years would be ruined.
Although we know that the planning commission did their best in the previous round of this
debacle, we do blame the BOCC for failing to act in the best interest of the Jefferson County
residents due to bullying and threats to bankrupt the County with a lawsuit by the developer.
Mediation, in our opinion, does not work when it is done with a person whose mind -set is "It's
my way or the highway." And in addition, mediation, in our opinion, does not work if the very
people that have the most to lose are banned from the process.
The BOCC ignored all the letters written, all the meetings attended, all the words spoken, all
the objections raised, all the facts presented that point to the fact that a gun range of this scope
should not be allowed. This silencing of Jefferson County constituents is a dereliction of duty by
the BOCC. To favor one over -zealous individual over the many who undoubtedly will suffer is a
blatant violation of our rights as citizens and taxpayers.
The BOCC's decisions should not be based on pressure from those who use fear and
intimidation to get what they want. As Thomas Jefferson said, "The care of human life and
happiness.... is the first and only legitimate purpose of good government." Our health and
happiness is dependent upon the environmental protection of the beautiful county we live in.
We strongly believe that any ordinance regarding new commercial shooting ranges should
include these provisions and restrictions:
1. NEW RANGES NEED TO BE INDOORS. OR BETTER YET..UNDERGROUND.
2. NO MILITARY TRAINING ACTIVITIES ALLOWED.
3. NEW RANGES SHOULD BE SMALL SCALE AND RECREATIONAL ONLY.
4. CONSIDERATION FOR VETS AND OTHERS WITH PTSD.
5. NO RANGES WITHIN 500 YARDS OF SHORELINES.
6. NO NON -GUN EXPLOSIONS OR USE OF HELIOCOPTERS.
7. NO TAXPAYER MONEY USED TO SUBSIDIZE THE PROJECT IN ANY WAY.
8. WHISTLE BLOWER ANONYMITY TO EXPOSE VIOLATIONS AND UNSAFE PRACTICES.
9. THE ORDINANCE SHOULD SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS SITING APPROPRIATENESS OF
ANY NEW RANGE.
Thank you for taking the time to read our letter.
Jim and Nancy Higgins
203 Mt. View Drive /Snow Creek Ranch
Quilcene, Wa. 98376
360-765-4433
IN
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