HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR MoratoriumBoard of County Commissioners
1820 Jefferson Street
PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Kate Dean, District 1 Heidi Eisenhour, District 2 Greg Brotherton, District 3
For Information contact: BOCC Chair Kate Dean,
360-301-1750
On October 4, 2021, Jefferson County enacted a moratorium for one year to pause on certain types
of development that could result in densities incompatible with zoning in rural areas. The
moratorium applies only when the development requires recognition of a lot created prior to
September 7, 1971 (the date of the County’s first platting regulation) and only to the following types
of applications: 1) boundary line adjustments, plat alterations, binding site plans, segregations or
exemptions; 2) onsite septic permit applications; and 3) any request to the Department of
Community Development or Environmental Public Health that requires recognition of a lot through
an administrative process or procedure.
“The County takes very seriously enacting a moratorium like this,” said Chair of the Board of County
Commissioners, Kate Dean. “But we are committed to land use planning that puts development
appropriately where it belongs, both to retain rural character and to comply with the state’s Growth
Management Act.”
Jefferson County has an unusually large number of plats that pre-date the 1971 subdivision code,
many which are from the 1800’s. These old plats were filed without any review or approval by
Jefferson County and pre-date the Growth Management Act. Development of old plats in areas of
rural zoning presents unique challenges for the County Planning Department because many conflict
with current zoning and development regulations governing critical areas and shorelines. In
addition, there are no code provisions in the Jefferson County Code to ensure that these
developments are responsible for adequate infrastructure such as roads, schools, parks, police and
fire response, and other health and safety issues, all of which the County’s modern subdivision code
addresses.
“This moratorium ordinance is intended to provide a pause in the current pace of development of
these lots so that we can propose new regulations, with public involvement, to address these issues
in a thoughtful way that is consistent with state law,” said Brent Butler, the Director of Community
Development.
In enacting this ordinance, the Board of County Commissioners recognized that not all permit
applications pose the risk of inconsistency with the Growth Management Act. That is why the Board
made clear that the moratorium does not apply to the following types of applications:
applications for repair of existing legal on-site sewage systems;
applications for repair, remodel or expansion of existing legal single and multifamily housing
structures, which includes development of new accessory dwelling units;
development on lots that have already been recognized through a County administrative
process prior to October 11, 2021 such as lot certification, boundary line adjustment, or
restrictive covenant;
Phone (360) 385-9100 Fax (360) 385-9382 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us
applications deemed complete by the County before October 4, 2021;
applications relying on plats created -prior to the 1971 subdivision ordinance that are
consistent with underlying zoning;
boundary line adjustment applications proposing consolidation of pre-1971 platted lots to
develop one single-family home;
applications for development of publicly funded housing for persons experiencing
homelessness and for affordable housing;
applications for development within the Irondale and Port Hadlock Urban Growth Area; and,
applications for development by a public entity and for development of any essential public
facility.
The ordinance requires County staff to complete a workplan in which Community Development will
assess regulations of old plats and substandard lots and prepare a draft ordinance with
recommended revisions to the County’s code. There will be opportunity for public participation
when the draft goes before the Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners for
consideration. “The ordinance gives staff a year to complete this process, but we hope we can get
this important work in front of the public and the Commissioners sooner so that compatible
development can continue ASAP,” said Butler.
A public hearing will be held on November 22, 2021 to allow public testimony on
the emergency moratorium ordinance, as required by state law.
The moratorium can be found at: https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/260/Community-Development
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