HomeMy WebLinkAboutPeninsula Sportsman LLC attchHTFCommentJefferson County Board of County Commissioners & Homeless Housing Taskforce,
Our family, business, home and forestland have shared a property line with the County for many years.
They are just one of our neighbors in this area of Cape George Road. Over the years we have endured a
substantial clear-cut, consistent illegal dumping, shooting, wildfires, crime and trespass from the
adjacent property as Jefferson County has consistently proved to be a bad neighbor. We have opposed
development plans for the neighboring land while supporting its use as a managed forest property
providing income to the County and a multi-use trail system enjoyed by many. The County’s recent
proposal to relocate a failing homeless camp to this parcel outside of town is simply another terrible
decision for their land and this neighborhood. We would be surprised by this most recent proposal had
it not been for the County ’s history of grand ideas then subsequent neglect for this “horse park”
property at 1172 Cape George Road.
We received a brief voicemail on our business line an hour prior to Monday’s 6/7 commission meeting
when District 3 commissioner Brotherton proposed this idea of moving the homeless camp from the
fairgrounds into our neighborhood. Not a single neighbor in our area had received notice that this
proposal was on the BOCC agenda that day. Our District 1 representative Kate Dean and District 2 Heidi
Eisenhour appeared equally uninformed on the proposal during the virtual meeting. Commissioner
Brotherton proposed that after having spoken at length to all the stakeholders involved that the
decision to relocate the homeless camp to this particular site is the best option. Only now does this
community know about the proposal.
This proposed, county sponsored homeless camp off the 50mph “highway” section of Cape George Road
has NONE of the following- potable water, hydrant for fire suppression, sewer, electrical infrastructure,
cell/ phone service, monitoring, hygiene, safety or life services to support the 50+ people planning to
relocate. It is located miles from town and there is no public transportation on Cape George Road. Over
the past year, the currently existing fairgrounds camp includes a myriad of vehicles, tents, derelict RV’s,
pets and homeless with a failing record and reputation for trespass, substance abuse, crime and
overdose. The idea to simply drop these people in a small gravel pit off-road in the woods, away from
town with no living resources and no social welfare access is a certain disaster for the camp and
surrounding residents. If the County is looking to dump unfortunate people in a game of Survivor,
wouldn’t Cappy’s Trails be the closer and equally ridiculous option?
Our family has operated a successful business and maintained our own acres of forestland here for
nearly 25 years. We have a home, raising a family here and along with our neighbors are concerned for
the property, safety and security of ourselves, our neighbors and those that utilize these multi-use
recreational trails. We implore the County commissioner board and task force to explore a more
suitable alternative for this homeless situation. I can assure you that our family and our neighbors will
not accept this terribly inadequate proposal without a fight and that is certainly not what is best for the
homeless community.
David & Tiffany Drewry Family; 1280 Cape George Road, Port Townsend