HomeMy WebLinkAbout112221ca02 Consent Agenda
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Brent Butler, Director, Community Development
Joel Peterson, AICP, Associate Planner, Community Development
DATE: November 22, 2021
SUBJECT: HEARING NOTICE re: Interim Ordinance Setting Forth Regulations
concerning the establishment and processing of applications for temporary
homeless facilities in unincorporated Jefferson County.
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Interim Ordinance No. 10-1221-20, "An Ordinance Adopting Interim Zoning Regulations for
the Siting, Establishment, and Operation of Temporary Homeless Facilities in
Unincorporated Areas of Jefferson County" provided for a 12-month work plan to result in
the adoption of a final ordinance by December 20, 2021.
On November 1, 2021, the Department of Community Development updated the Board of
County Commissioners on the final ordinance progress, attendant issues, and additional
opportunities for coordination and public outreach. At that time, the BoCC approved a six-
month extension to the work plan to accomplish these goals.
This interim ordinance supersedes Ordinance No. 10-1221-20 and extends the work plan for
an additional six months by interim control in order to provide additional public outreach and
Community Development research on provisions for a final ordinance. The extended work
plan ends June 20, 2022.
ANALYSIS:
The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners has held discussions regarding code amendments
and projects to help people who are experiencing homelessness. Based on staff reviews of
other jurisdictions who have dealt with the same issues,the best course of action is to adopt an
emergency ordinance that allows for the establishment of temporary homeless facilities to be
permitted and built in selected locations in unincorporated Jefferson County. The regulations
would include site development as well as operational oversight requirements.
Consent Agenda
The draft interim ordinance is located in Laserfiche at the following location:
https://test.co jefferson.wa.us/WebLinkExternal/0/fol/3332712/Rowl.aspx
Current county zoning and building codes do not allow for the building and operation of temporary
housing facilities including the construction of wooden tents or tiny homes. State law, however,
at RCW 36.01.290, authorizes religious organizations to host temporary tent encampments to
provide shelter for homeless individuals on properties these religious organizations own.
The adoption of the Emergency Ordinance is allowed by state law. The rationale behind
this approach for Jefferson County is that it will allow for those religious or qualified private, non-
profit organizations that may wish to manage such temporary homeless encampments to now
legally do so. Adoption of the Emergency Ordinance must be followed up with a public
hearing within 60 days following adoption. At the public hearing and in consideration of public
input, the Board can consider changes if necessary to the interim regulations in the Emergency
Ordinance.
The Interim Ordinance would last for six months from the date that Ordinance No. 10-1221-20
expires—December 20. 2021. The second interim ordinance would be in effect until June 20,
2022, six months from the date of its adoption.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Work associated with the drafting of the Emergency Ordinance is funded entirely by the County's
general fund. Any subsequent permitting activity carried out under the Emergency Ordinance
would be funded by the requisite permit fees.
RECOMMENDATION:
Deliver notice of public hearing to the Leader newspaper on November 22nd for publication in the
November 24 issue,announcing a public comment period and BoCC hearing on December 13, 2021,
10:30 am.
REVIEWED BY:
!l l r k/
Mark McCaule terim County Administra or Date
Please publish 2 times:November 24 and December 1, 2021
Bill to Jefferson County Commissioners
Non-departmental Fund
PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing is scheduled by the Jefferson County Board of
Commissioners for MONDAY,December 13, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. in the Commissioners' Chambers,
County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368 (NOTE:No In-Person
Attendance Allowed(Per Jefferson County RESOLUTION No. 45-21)), and said notice of said
hearing be published in the official newspaper of Jefferson County,and that at said hearing any
interested person may appear virtually and be heard for or against the resolutions. To view documents,
go to https://test.co Jefferson.wa.us/WebLinkExternal/0/fol/3332712/Row l.aspx.
To participate/provide testimony, you will need to join the meeting by 10:30 a.m. To participate via
Zoom, click on https://zoom.us/j/93777841705. To participate/provide testimony via telephone dial
1-253-215-8782 and enter access code: 937-7784-1705#by 10:30 a.m. To view this meeting live
with no participation, go to www.cojefferson.wa.us Follow the links under "Quick Links: Videos of
Meetings: Today. "Access for the hearing impaired and others can be accommodated using Washington
Relay Service at 1-800-833-6384.
A public hearing will be held for the purpose of taking written and oral testimony regarding an
interim ordinance which repeals and replaces Interim Ordinance No. 10-1221-20, An Ordinance
Adoption Interim Zoning Regulations for the Siting, Establishment, and Operation of Temporary
Homeless facilities in Unincorporated Areas of Jefferson County,which expires December 20, 2021.
The new interim ordinance continues the interim control and adds a 6-month work plan extension
ending June 20, 2022. The extension provides for additional public outreach, public input, and
subject matter research.
In addition, written testimony is also invited beginning on November 24, 2021 and ending on
December 13,2021 at the end of the Public Hearing, unless extended by the Board of County
Commissioners. Written public testimony may be submitted by Email to:
jeffbocc co.jefferson.wa.us; or by Mail to: Jefferson County Commissioners' Office; PO Box
1220, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Testimony must be received by the Board of County
Commissioners by the end of the hearing public comment period.
Approved and signed this 22nd day of November, 2021.
JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Kate Dean, Chair