HomeMy WebLinkAbout001To the Jefferson County Planning Commission Jan.2,2OL5
My husband and I have lived in Brinnon for almost 40 years. We have seen many coming and goings in
this area with resorts and few have thrived; consider Port Ludlow, Discovery Bay, Lake Cushman, and
Alderbrook. They have all gone through owners and changes in plans to try to succeed. We have
concerns about the proposed resort and its enormous size of almost 900 units. Our concerns are around
the traffic it will produce on Hwy 101 and surrounding roads, the actualjobs and pay, water, chemicals
being used and habitat.
Brinnon is a very rural community. The 900 units and the people living even it part time will have a huge
impact and change the character to being more Port Ludlow than Brinnon. Even when Garth Mann
starts out with 250 units the intent and possibility is the almost 900 even if he sells the resort; the
potential is almost 900. That is a lot of people and employees during peak use. ls there a contingency
fund for if the resort does not bring in money and fails-what happens to the land and vacant buildings-
left to decay as with past owners? Can the size of expansion be reduced if the property is sold down the
line?
The other concern is who is going to come to Brinnon more than once? You visit it on the sunny day and
think it is lovely (which it is but it has more rainy days) but I do not really see than coming back during
the rainy weather which is more often than what Port Ludlow or Port Townsend experience. Rain is not
conducive to golf. Brinnon is several hours away from the airport and is only accessible by Highway 101
unless they go by boat. There are resorts that are much closer with nice amenities; especially, when you
consider the time it takes to get to Brinnon. People might come for shrimp and crab and that will
deplete that resource even more.
The traffic concerns were seriously, not adequately addressed in the DSEIS. The statistics are out of
date. They only looked at intersections and not where the accidents usually occur which are corners and
Mt. Walker. Hwy 101 is blocked for several hours or more depending upon severity of accidents. lt can
be totally closed. lt is a two lane windy, twisty, narrow road with few turnouts or passing lanes if
traveling south. Traveling north is Mt Walker with several twisty turns and then going south to Brinnon
is a bad stretch for accidents. Having the road blocked for several hours has a severe impact on local
people who travel for groceries, medical reasons and for work. Putting traffic lights will not address
these areas. Who will pay for the road maintenance and traffic congestion relief? I suspect that the local
taxpayer will bear the burden for unforeseen changes caused by the resort. As for busses from the
airport, wealthy people do not wait for a bus. I don't think they travel by bus. The traffic study is still
using old data for it statistics of how many people will increase travel on the highway.
My other concern is the increase of traffic on the Duckabush Road where there are several hiking trails.
It is now the only access point to the Olympic Mountains since the Dosewallips road slide. The county
has never fixed the problem correctly and it appears to be a costly project to do so. We have
experienced heavy traffic on weekends and nice weather months. lt is an even narrower road in spots
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As for jobs, the study is very clear that the applicant must be qualified. I am sure that there are local
people interested in working but may not be qualified so many local people will not be hired. Training
did not seem to be offered. Most of the jobs listed will be below family wage jobs so that there will still
be a high rate of poverty. I also think most of the jobs are seasonal, minimum wage, and part time. lt
could leave more people added to the community in poverty, on Medicaid, and straining the limited
local resources. Most construction jobs will go with the large company that is hired to build the resort.
They might not hire locally. Who is going to fix and repair the highway after all the trucks-remember it is
a million cubic yards of dirt being moved; have traveled it multiple times? Who pays for that?
Water is a huge concern as it is one of our most precious resources that developers have little concern.
We have seen enough floods and dry months to know how fickle weather is in our almost 40 years living
here. With the almost 900 units, think of how many toilets will flush, showers, laundry, and the golf
course usage-how many gallons of water will it take before the aquifer is depleted and salt water
intrusion occurs? The salt water intrusion burden is upon the well owner and costs will probably be on
the well owner to use the resort water. Will it also give the resort access to their property if the water
lines are theirs? I can't imagine wealthy people wanting to ration their water usage but the property
owners will due to having to pay for water and limited water due to depletion.
Water quality for the Hood Canal is also important. lt was said that there were going to be holding areas
for affluent but what happens when that overflows during a heavy rain? What happens to the
contaminated water? Golf courses and surrounding grounds are able to use nastier chemicals than non
business people can get. Craig Peek stated that they would be natural but that is extremely VAGUE. The
potential to have these run off into the Hood Canal are possible. And the Hood Canal also offers many
family wage jobs in seafood industries. lt is a livelihood for many and recreation for others. Who will
oversee this?
The MPR has a lot of amenities but limited use or none at all for locals. Trails are accessible but where
can a local person park? They would want you to use their store and restaurant but the prices are likely
not affordable to locals and that is what they need to succeed during the wet weather months. I think
there is the potential that local businesses might lose business to the resort. The health clinic is behind
the locked gate so it is not accessible. Where will the trucks with trailers park on shrimp days since the
parking is now a resort? They will probably park along Highway 101 and cause serious congestion.
The only saving grace is that the resort is starting small with 250 units but the potential to grow to the
full capacity is always there unless you can change that. Perhaps maybe the almost 900 units ends with
this MPR and isn't part of a future sale. lt is just out of character for such a rural area. Other issues
should still be addressed before this goes forward.
Also there is in the plan to have a road to the marina through the Harbor House which has a trail use
only due to their septic system being there. What will happen there?
With still many concerns. Sincerely;
William and Roxianne Morris
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January 2,2015
To: Jefferson County Department of Community Development
C/O David Wayne Johnson, Long Range Planner
621 Sheridan Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Bud and Valerie Schindler
270 Rhododendron Lane
Brinnon, WA 98320
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Subject: Comments on DSEIS for Pleasant Harbor Marina and Golf Resort
The purpose of this memo is to provide general DSEIS comments in support of the Black Point MPR. Our
comments are based on the fact that parity will exist between the development effort and the community
outside the development. As such, we look forward to the following improvements:
o Senior Nutrition Program and Meals on Wheels lost its county funding support due to a lack
of county revenue;o Brinnon School is in an aged building and is in need of repairs before the growth in
attendance occurs;o Brinnon Fire and Emergency Rescue lacks funding support such that those in need get rapid
response and need not be required to travel long distances when time is important;o Living wage jobs for our community will grow as will the population. Our area has been
devastated by both the demise of the logging industry and the current economic conditions;o Senior Health Care will improve such that traveling at least an hour in either direction will be
minimized;o Environmental improvements willtake place. According to the DSEIS this project will be the
most environmentally friendly project in Western Washington and will be something our
community can always be proud of;r Parks and Recreational activities will improve leading to a variety of activities for both tourists
and the community;o The Brinnon Village Center infrastructure will improve. The systems for water, sewer and
roads will improve and will result in healthier and safer environment for local residents;o The tax base for our community (and for the county) will grow leading to improved revenue
for the county and hope for lower property taxes for our community.
We support all aspects of the DSEIS and encourage its approval. Changes brought about by this
development are very important to our community and, as such, we urge the county to support its
contin ued development.
Sincerely,
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