HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo to AdminSON JEFFERSON COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
621 Sheridan Street I Port Townsend, WA 98368
Q 360-379-4450 1 email: dcd@co.jefferson.wa.us
111 NG� http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/260/CommunityDevelopment
April 28, 2021
To: Austin Watkins, Interim Director
From: Shannen Cartmel, Associate Planner
RE: Clarifying the permitting process for an Essential Public Facility (EPF) with the Special Use Permit
Special Use permits are regulated under Jefferson County Code (JCC) 18.15.110. They are required to
be reviewed under the same process as a Comprehensive Plan amendment, per Chapter JCC 18.45.
Footnote 9 under JCC 18.15.040 Table 3-1, states that classification of EPF uses within appropriate
zoning districts are advisory only and are subject to provisions of Article V of Chapter 18.15. Please
note it is our opinion that footnote 9 should read Article III, not Article V. This is likely a
miscodification or incorrect reference as Article III, not Article V addresses EPF siting.
The application must be consistent with requirements of Chapter 18.40 and 18.45. JCC 18.45.030
exempts the Special Use Permit process for EPF's from the typical timeline and deadlines of a
Comprehensive Plan amendment; however, the EPF review is similar to a site -specific rezone process.
The application requires SEPA review as there is no applicable exemption. The existing facility has not
been reviewed under SEPA and the current and proposed expansion are in excess of the SEPA flexible
threshold exemptions. The SEPA determination would be made and noticed for a 14-day comment
period. After the comment period, DCD would decide to maintain, or change the SEPA threshold
determination depending on received comments.
Jefferson County Community Development (DCD) will complete a staff report, hold a workshop with
the Planning Commission, and then the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing. After the
public hearing, the Planning Commission will deliberate on the proposal and make its recommendations
to the BoCC. The BoCC may adopt the Planning Commission's recommendation or modify their
recommendation. If the Planning Commission's recommendation is modified, then the BoCC must hold
their own public hearing on the proposal.
While the Special Use Permit is a type V legislative action, it is not a Comprehensive Plan Amendment
or an amendment to the Unified Development Code; therefore, there is no requirement to provide 60-day
notice of intent to adopt to the Department of Commerce or provide a post 10-day notice upon adoption
as required under RCW 36.70A.106, WAC 365-196-630, and JCC 18.45.080(2)(e).
The path forward is consistent with the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan 8.3 Essential Public
Faci ' 'es. Reviewed and approved by:
/11'.11 L/fabJAI)
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Watkins, Interim Director Date