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District No. 1 Commissioner:
District No. 2 Commissioner:
District No. 3 Commissioner:
Larry W. Dennison, Member
B.G. Brown, Member
John L. Pitts, Chairman
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JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Clerk of the Board:
Public Works Director:
Jerdine C. Bragg
Gary A. Rowe
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14 I N tJ T E S
Week of August 4, 1986
The meeting was called to order at the appointed time by
Chairman John L. Pitts. Commissioner B. G. Brown and Commissioner
Larry W. Dennison were both present.
PUBLIC MEETING re: Proposed Lease of County Property:
Bayshore Enterprises: Animal Shelter: The proposed lease agreement
with Bayshore Enterprises that was drafted the Prosecuting Attorney
was reviewed by the Board, after the Chairman opened the meeting. The
Chairman then read the responsibilities of the County as Lessor and
Bayshore as Lessee. Commissioner Brown stated that he feels that the
clause regarding the County purchasing the improvements to the property
if the contract were terminated, is not acceptable.
Commissioner Brown moved to continue the meeting until 4:00 p.m. in
order to allow time to have questions regarding the proposed lease
answered. Commissioner Dennison seconded the motion.
4:00 p.m. - Pat Slevin, Director of Bayshore Enterprises, came before
the Board and advised them that the termination clause of the lease as
written by the Prosecuting Attorney's office is standard contractual
language. The Board will ask the Prosecuting Attorney to review the
lease agreement again to make sure that the County's interest is
protected and also asked Public Works Director, Gary Rowe to provide
the cost figures for the access and ground construction preparation
work that will need to be done on the site before any action is taken
on the lease.
The Chairman reopened the meeting and asked for comments for or against
the proposed lease and being no one present to comment the hearing was
closed. Discussion continued with the Public Works Director and the
Planning Director regarding the value of the County property to be
leased versus the cost to prepare the site for a building. Prosecuting
Attorney John Raymond responded after much discussion, that the County
could lease the land to Bayshore for a 20 year period and when that
time is up any improvements to the property would revert to the County.
The discussion resumed regarding the building that Bayshore Enterprises
intends to build on the site and how funds will be raised to build it.
Pat Slevin reported that the foundation that has granted Bayshore
funding for the animal shelter requires that the money be used for the
benefit of animals.
AGREEMENT re; Peninsula Development Association:
Commissioner Brown moved and Commissioner Dennison seconded the motion
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Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes: August 4, 1986
Page: 2
to approve and sign the agreement with the Peninsula Development
Association to provide defined services for $1,900.00 with an
additional $1,458.50 to be provided by in-kind services. The agreement
will expire September 30, 1986.
AGREEMENT re; Payment for Court Services; City of Port
Townsend: The agreement with the City for the provision of district
court services for 1986 was approved by motion of Commissioner
Dennison, seconded by Commissioner Brown. The City will pay the County
$35,747.00 for these services.
Ron Smith & Joe Kawakv re: Question on Easement; Reuben
Johnson Road;Swansonville: Mr. Neil Potthoff and Mrs. Leto, adjacent
property owners, were present when Mr. Smith explained this issue to
the Board. He said that he is selling his property, to a Mr. Kawaky,
which is accessed by the Reuben Johnson Road and an extended portion of
that road over an unrecorded easement. A solution to the question of
the access easement is needed before the sale can be closed. Mr. Smith
continued by noting that the Reuben Johnson Road is currently the only
access into the Forest Hill Short Plat and the Leto residence. Mr.
Smith reported that Mr. Kawaky's attorney, Mr. Henry, advised him that
the Public Works Department has copies of unrecorded Quit Claim Deeds
which would grant the County easements for the rest of Reuben Johnson
Road. These easements were granted in 1964 by a Mr. Hanson who owned
the property at that time. Mr. Henry further advised Mr. Kawaky that
an unrecorded easement is completely valid and enforceable between the
two parties of the document, but anyone else who purchased the property
from Mr. Hanson would not be bound by the unrecorded easement.
Since the County has an unrecorded easement, Mr. Smith advised that he
declined to give Neil Potthoff an easement across his property, but Mr.
Potthoff did go ahead and build a road across his property. Mr. Kawaky
has asked for a reduction in the sales price on the property because of
the easement situation. After talking with the Prosecuting Attorney,
Mr. Smith advised that he is not sure if the County has since recorded
the easements. Mr. Smith would like to proceed with a rapid solution
to this situation, and reported that he dumped 15 tons of quarry rock
in two locations on his property, which blocked the access road. He
did this so that people would know that he considers this private
property where the access road is located.
Mr. Kawaky advised that he discovered the existence of the unrecorded
easements in researching information on the property. The Public Works
Departm~nt advised him that the Reuben Johnson Road was scheduled for
work in 1987. Mr. Kawaky advised that his concerns are: 1) Whether
the County plans to record these easements, 2) Why the County is
anxious to put in this road that serves three houses, and 3) If
easements are not provided could the County condemn the property for a
road?
Mrs. Leto, 251 Reuben Johnson Road, stated that emergency vehicles do
not have access to her property due to the gravel blocking the road.
Gary Rowe, Public Works Director verified that the Reuben Johnson Road
has been scheduled for repair in 1987 on the Six Year Road Program. The
roads included for repair on the Road Program are given a priority
based on traffic, types of use, and condition of the road, etc. The
Reuben Johnson Road has been on the program for several years and has
now worked up to the list for 1987. The right-of-way needs would be
researched and negotiated with the property owners when the project is
to that stage. The County has not acquired right-of-way by
condemnation for many years and has no intent to do so in the future.
If right-of-way could not be acquired by negotiation, then as
determination would be made to modifying the project in the best
interest of the people that use the road and the adjacent properties.
The Public Works Department has inspected the rock placed by Mr. Smith
and verified that it is obstructing the existing County Road forcing
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Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes: August 4, 1986
Page: 3
the property owners who live beyond it to drive around it on to Mr.
Smith's property. This rock is a hazard and it needs to be removed.
The Chairman then read a letter from the Fire Chief of Fire District #3
to Sheriff Lee Smith which corroborated, Mrs. Leto's testimony that
emergency vehicles could not reach her property because of the rock
dumped by Mr. Smith.
Commissioner Brown advised that if this matter had been brought to the
Board's attention earlier, some confusion may have been avoided. The
first thing that must be done is the removal of the rock from the
County right-of-way. The other questions raised will require more
research before they can be resolved.
After further discussion of the issues, Mr. Kawaky advised that he
would not require any compensation at all, if the Quit Olaim deeds do
not apply to him and any County right-of-way acquisition in the future
would be negotiated with him. He would require compensation if these
unrecorded easements were somehow applied to him, since he was not
aware of them when he made his purchase offer to Mr. Smith. The
property being discussed is 20 foot by 165 foot strip of land, the
other strip which is 15 feet by 165 feet is an existing usage road.
David Anderson, who lives at the very end of Reuben Johnson Road,
stated that if the County widens the road, it will cut 20 feet into his
property, cutting into his front yard and pump house. The Chairman
advised him that if such a project were to proceed, all of the property
owners in the area would be notifieq. Gary Rowe added that the
negotiations for right-of-way for this road will be difficult because
there are two pieces of property in the area that both have
improvements close to the right of way. '
The Chairman clarified for those present that 1) Any construction
proposed for the Reuben Johnson Road is not a foregone conclusion.
Details would have to be worked out by the Public Works Department in
the future, 2) It is very unlikely that the County will condemn any
property for right-of-way with respect to this project and 3) The rock
that was placed on the County Road right-of-way will have to be
removed. The Board will have to meet with the Prosecuting Attorney
regarding the legal questions on the easements before taking any
action.
Mr. Smith said that he would be agreeable to removing the rock
immediately if he c~n be given assurance from the County that the
unrecorded easements will be destroyed. Gary Rowe reported that the
Quit Claim deeds are currently only papers that exist in the Road file
and are not legal documents because they have never been recorded.
They can be destroyed in any manner that the Board feels appropriate.
Commissioner Brown advised that the first thing the County has to have
taken care of is getting the rock removed from the County right-of-
way. The Board will discuss the matter with the Prosecuting Attorney
and advise Mr. Smith of their determination.
. . . Later that day: The Board met with the Prosecuting Attorney
regarding the unrecorded easements for Reuben Johnson Road. The
Prosecuting Attorney advised the Chairman of the Board to destroy the
unrecorded Quit Claim Deeds, which he did immediately in the presence
of the Prosecuting Attorney.
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Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes: August 4, 1986
Page: 4
BUSINESS FROM COUNTY DEPARTMENTS:
PUBLIC WORKS
AGREEMENT re: Right-of-way on Charles Avenue, Alcohol Loop
Road; Charles Broders: Public Works Director Gary Rowe reported that
Charles Avenue is the access road for the Old Alcohol Plant Resort. If
this agreement is approved, the County would initiate an intent to
vacate the northerly 10 feet of the Old Alcohol Loop Road that is north
of the Oak Bay Road right-of-way, and Mr. Broders would deed the County
the property needed for the right-of-way. The County would also agree
to construct a road approach for Mr. Broders.
Commissioner Brown indicated that the lot lines would have to be
vacated as well as the right-of-way on the property under consider-
ation. In order to make sure that Mr. Broders is aware of this,
Commissioner Brown suggested that a copy of the Intent to Vacate notice
be sent to him before the Board takes any action on it or the
agreement.
CONTRACT re; Personal Services; Appraisal Services for
Hastings Avenue West; John Siebenbaum: The personal services contract
with John Siebenbaum to perform the appraisals for the Hastings Avenue
West right-of-way acquisitions, was approved by motion of Commissioner
Brown, seconded by Commissioner Dennison.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day: August 16, 1986
has been set as the day that the landfill will accept various household
hazardous wastes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Access to Dollar Garage Building next to the County'S VFW
Hall: Mr. Neil Slater who owns the Dollar Garage Building which is
located next to the County's VFW Hall building at 1020 Water Street has
asked if the County would enter into an agreement to construct a rear
access for the second and third floor that would accommodate both
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buildings, Gary Rowe rePfrted.
There are holes in the sidewalk in front of this building which are a
hazard and will be patch~d. There is also a hole in the back of the
building which accesses ~he basement and needs to be repaired. Since
no one is allowed on the I third floor of the building, the inside access
to it should be blocked according to the County's insurance company.
PLANNING/BUILDING
Reauest for Variance from Flood Plain Ordinance; Frank
Bob Duffy reported that he will contact Mr. Randall and set a
him to meet wi~h the Board regarding his request for
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Short Plat Ordinance: Commissioner Dennison asked the status
of the Short Plat Ordinance with regard to it being up to date and
reflective of the CountYls position? Assistant Planner Rachel
Nathanson reported that ~egislative changes have been made over the
past two years that are not reflected by the County's Subdivision
Ordinance and the County I is required to implement these changes.
Commissioner Brown moved I to have the record show that Commissioner
Dennison is concerned ab+ut the status of the Subdivision Ordinance.
Commissioner Dennison seeonded the motion. Commissioner Dennison
further noted he is very concerned about short plats near the water.
Randall:
date with
variance.
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Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes: August 4, 1986
Page: 5
The Comprehensive Plan needs to be updated also because the issues that
it addresses also have an impact on these areas.
-Final Short Plat: Puaet Southern Properties; Anderson Lake
Road: This short plat will divide a 14 acre parcel into three 4.7 acre
lots, Rachel Nathanson reported. The Public Works and Health
departments have both reviewed and approved the short plat.
Commissioner Brown moved to approve the Final puget Southern Properties
Short Plat on Anderson Lake Road. Commissioner Dennison seconded the
motion.
Mitigative Measures: Northwest Electric Apparatus, Inc.:
(See also Minutes of July 1986) Rachel Nathanson reported on the
site inspection she and John Hayes of the Health Department made at the
present site of Northwest Electric Apparatus, Inc. in the Port of Port
Townsend. This inspection found that the chemicals discussed
previously were the only ones that were in use.
There are two questions that have to be answered by DOE, Ms. Nathanson
advised: 1) How to dispose of the Trichloroethylene residue that is
left in the bottom of the decreasing machine because it can not be
dumped at the County landfill, and 2) How to dispose of Oakite Q9, a
solvent. The pH of this solvent can be reduced by mixing it with
another chemical, however it is not known if the resultant chemical can
be put in a septic tank without harming it. Commissioner Dennison
suggested that the project proponent be required to contract with a
certified hazardous waste handler to dispose of the wastes generated.
If such an agreement is not required, these materials will end up in
the County's landfill which will add to a greater long term problem
which could include groundwater contamination.
Commissioner Dennison moved to add a mitigative measure to those
suggested that requires the project proponent to enter into a disposal
agreement with a certified hazardous waste handler who will then be
responsible to dispose of any hazardous materials and the sediments
from the degreasing machine. Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.
The Planning Department will give the project proponent the names of
certified hazardous waste disposal companies that serve this area.
Commissioner Dennison moved to issue and Determination of Non-
significance and lead agency status for the Northwest Electric
Apparatus, Inc. based on the mitigative measures as revised.
Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.
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Application for Assistance from the Soldiers' and Sailors'
Relief Fund: Commissioner Brown moved and Commissioner Dennison
seconded the motion to approve the application for Soldiers' and
Sailors' Relief Fund as submitted by Elbert M. Fanene in the amount of
$500.00.
The meeting was recessed at 5:00 p.m. and reconvened at 7:00
p.m. with all Board members in attendance for the following:
BEARING re: Highwav 20 Corridor Plan: Ten interested area
residents were present when Chairman Pitts opened the Public Hearing
regarding the proposed adoption of the Highway 20 Corridor Policies as
an amendment to the 'Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan.
Planning Director David Goldsmith explained for those present that the
Planning Commission has submitted the final version of the Highway 20
Corridor Plan which they have been working on for the past six months,
to the County Commissioners for their consideration. Mr. Goldsmith
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Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes: August 4, 1986
Page: 6
then introduced Assistant Planner Rachel Nathanson' to explain the
policy further.
The specific area under discussion in this proposal would become the
new boundaries for the Glen Cove Industrial area. The Highway 20
Corridor is defined as the area between the southerly limits of the
City of Port Townsend and the Old Fort Townsend Road. It is bounded on
the east by Port Townsend Bay and on the West by the westerly
boundaries of the Phillips Bayview Addition and Eisenbeis Bay View
Addition and Section 16 and 21,! T30N R1W, exclusive of the portion of
Section 16 northwest of Discove~yRoad. The complete area would be
designated industrial, but heavY industry would be limited to east of
Highway 20 and south of the raillroad right-of-way.
The policy
corridor:
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proposes, Ms. Nathan~on
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continued, the following for this
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A limited number of abcesses to Highway 20, those being:
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Old Fort Townsend Roa~, Frederick Avenue, Thomas Avenue,
Seton Road, Glen Cove, Road and Jacob Miller Road.
Service roads forint.rior access to properties within
the industrial area; Ileft turn, acceleration and
deceleration lanes.
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A looped water line system and utility corridors are
also proposed for the! areas along this portion of SR 20.
Buffer policies inclu~e such things as: A minimum 30
foot wide buffer along the private property boundaries
adjacent to the State! Transportation Department's 100
foot wide right-of-way; compact evergreen plants and
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trees native to the a~ea should be planted and/or
maintained in such a ~anner as to provide a opaque
screen within six years of building occupancy; leaving
existing vegetation i~ the buffer area is encouraged;
berms may be used in reas where little or no vegetation
exists; Conifers and vergreens should be a minimum of
two feet at planting;! permanent maintenance of the
buffer is required; planting schedule is to be provided
to the Planning/Build~ng Department; native
rhododendrons should hot be removed from the buffer
area; and buffer area~ should be considered "Open Space"
for taxation purposes,'
Minimum structure set~acks are defined.
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The following policie~ are set out for signs in the
corridor: 30 foot setpack required; no off-premise signs
are permitted; doublei faced multi-tenant signs are
allowed in designatedi areas; individual businesses will
be allowed a 4 square I foot space on a multi-tenant sign;
and no illumination wall be allowed on signs placed
between, the bUildingsi and the Highway 20 right-of-way.
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Parking lots are to b~ setback at least thirty feet from
the Highway 20 right-~f-way.
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Outside storage of eqUipment and material should be
screened from the Hig~way.
Drainage should be de~eloped in accordance with local
and State standards.
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Since the Planning Commission took testimony on this proposed policy,
the Planning Department has received additional testimony from the
following people with views for and against the proposed policy: Julie
Germain, Sara Hudson, Burton Bell, Jean Anderson, the Port Townsend
Chamber of Commerce (Motion passed on August 4: Expressing concern for
maintaining at least a 30 foot minimum buffer zone in the Highway 20
Corridor) and a petition signed by 500 City of Port Townsend and county
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Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes: August 4, 1986
Page: 7
residents (supporting a 30 foot greenbelt buffer zone in the Highway 20
corridor).
In response to Commissioner Dennison's question, Ms. Nathanson reported
that this policy, if adopted, will be used as a guideline and would be
applied as development permits are received for property in the
corridor. Any existing structures in this area would be grandfathered,
but clear cut areas would have the policies applied to future project
permits.
Chairman Pitts then asked for public comment for and against the
proposed policy.
Bill Svensson: Mr. Svensson stated that, in general, he concurs with
the recommendations of the Planning Department staff. He is concerned
that nothing is done that will mess up the beautiful approach to Port
Townsend. A thirty foot buffer does present some 'problems, however,
and thought should be given to increasing the buffer to forty feet. An
effort should be made to negotiate with the State to keep the clearing
of their right-of-way to the absolute minimum, in order to help protect
the native rhododendrons in the area.
Nora Porter: Ms. Porter believes that this plan will have a great
impact and called the Board's attention to the questions of due
process. The landowners and abutting landowners have not been and
should be notified. She requested a minimum of 30 days for public
comment.
Michael Levine: 236 additional petition signatures (see statement
above about the petition received by the Planning Department) were
presented by Mr. Levine. He stated that these petitions represent just
the tip of the iceberg regarding how the community feels about a thirty
foot wide buffer zone in the Highway 20 corridor. The viable Port
Townsend tourist industry needs to be protected.
Francis Ludwia: Mr. Ludwig advised that he lives in the Glen Cove area
and feels that the residential community in this area has been ignored
by this policy. What this policy will do to the taxation in this area
has also been ignored. He feels the property owners in the Glen Cove
area will be taxed out of their houses.
James Worthinaton: Mr. Worthington advised that he would submit his
comments in writing.
Burton Bell: Mr. 'Bell, who owns the Glen Cove Industrial Park, advised
that he does not object to having some sort of a screen, but if it is
required that thirty or more feet of property be used for a buffer, he
would like to see the County buy that land. Many of the people signing
the petitions, Mr. Bell advised, are not from Port Townsend or even
Jefferson County.
W. E. Seton: Mr. Seton, who owns property in this area, stated that he
has attended most of these meetings and up until this meeting, 100 %
screening has been discussed. The public understands that business
needs to be seen, but what they want to see is the green canopy effect
on the entrance to Port Townsend. Mr. Seton said that he wants to see
the entrance looking good and by working with business, it will look a
lot better than if business is blocked out altogether. The thirty foot
buffer is an adequate setback without any additional setback being
required. In regard to taking away property from the property owner,
Mr. Seton advised that if fifty feet is taken off of each side of a 2
1/2 acre piece of property, half of the property would be taken.
Being no further public comment, Commissioner Brown added that he feels
that the thirty day comment period suggested by Nora Porter should be
implemented. Planning Director David Goldsmith explained that the law
requires that general notification be given when changes are proposed
to the Comprehensive Plan by publication in the newspaper. Individual
notifications were not sent to each property owner in the area, however
that could be done if the Board directed. The Board concurred that the
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Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes: August 4, 1986
Page: 8
Planning Department send notification of this proposed policy to all
property owners in the area and advise them that there will be a thirty
day comment period, before any action to adopt the policy is taken.
Currently there is approximately 450 acres designated as industrial in
the County, David Goldsmith reported, and about an additional 350 acres
would change from a residential designation to industrial if this
policy is adopted. The discussion continued regarding the areas in the
County that are currently considered industrial and the tradeoff being
made in various residential areas; and how the term "opaque" was
arrived at with regard to buffering.
Commissioner Dennison said that he sees the basic desired outcome to
the adoption of this policy as: 1. Maintenance of the integrity of the
Highway 20 corridor. 2. More flexibility of land use, and 3. The
Industrial designation defined as stated in the Comprehensive Plan.
Commissioner Brown added that it is his understanding that the policy
would require "opaque" screening only at car level height.
The policy as written, Rachel Nathanson clarified, states that trees
that are planted in the buffer area would be allowed to grow to natural
mature heights. The policy does not restrict residential development
within this area, but Ms. Nathanson added that it would be appropriate
to pull any existing residential developments out, of the defined
corridor area. The discussion continued regarding the need to redefine
the residential, commercial and industrial areas within the corridor so
that they can be dealt with more easily. The amount of commercial use
in this area, Commissioner Dennison stated, is a concern because it
generally generates more traffic and other impacts which will need to
be addressed.
Commissioner Dennison moved to set September 2, 1986 as the final date
for accepting public comment on the Highway 20 Corridor Policies.
Commissioner Brown seconded the motion. A date will be set for a
decision on this policy during the Board's regular weekly meeting.
An unidentified man made the additional comment that most people's
interest in this policy is direct proportion to how it (the. policy)
effects their pocketbook, and his primary concern is that his taxes
will increase because of the value placed on industrial property, not a
concern about a buffer. He can live with industry, but has a hard time
living with the tax man.
Chairman Pitts then closed the hearing and thanked those present for
their attendance and comments.
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JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
John L. Pitts, Chairman
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B.G. Brown, Member
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Jerdi~ C. Bragg. ~
Clerk of the Boar
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