HomeMy WebLinkAboutREVISED CURRENT SEPA Checklist dc 2021-0729 submittal
SEPA Environmental checklist (WAC 197-11-960) July 2016 Page 1 of 17
SEPA ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST
Purpose of checklist:
Governmental agencies use this checklist to help determine whether the environmental impacts of your
proposal are significant. This information is also helpful to determine if available avoidance, minimization
or compensatory mitigation measures will address the probable significant impacts or if an environmental
impact statement will be prepared to further analyze the proposal.
Instructions for applicants:
This environmental checklist asks you to describe some basic information about your proposal. Please
answer each question accurately and carefully, to the best of your knowledge. You may need to consult
with an agency specialist or private consultant for some questions. You may use “not applicable” or
"does not apply" only when you can explain why it does not apply and not when the answer is unknown.
You may also attach or incorporate by reference additional studies reports. Complete and accurate
answers to these questions often avoid delays with the SEPA process as well as later in the decision-
making process.
The checklist questions apply to all parts of your proposal, even if you plan to do them over a period of
time or on different parcels of land. Attach any additional information that will help describe your proposal
or its environmental effects. The agency to which you submit this checklist may ask you to explain your
answers or provide additional information reasonably related to determining if there may be significant
adverse impact.
Instructions for Lead Agencies:
Please adjust the format of this template as needed. Additional information may be necessary to
evaluate the existing environment, all interrelated aspects of the proposal and an analysis of adverse
impacts. The checklist is considered the first but not necessarily the only source of information needed to
make an adequate threshold determination. Once a threshold determination is made, the lead agency is
responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the checklist and other supporting documents.
Use of checklist for nonproject proposals:
For nonproject proposals (such as ordinances, regulations, plans and programs), complete the applicable
parts of sections A and B plus the SUPPLEMENTAL SHEET FOR NONPROJECT ACTIONS (part D). Please
completely answer all questions that apply and note that the words "project," "applicant," and "property or
site" should be read as "proposal," "proponent," and "affected geographic area," respectively. The lead
agency may exclude (for non-projects) questions in Part B - Environmental Elements –that do not
contribute meaningfully to the analysis of the proposal.
A. Background [HELP]
1. Name of proposed project, if applicable:
Cape George Land Co. BLA (former Irvington Addition Plat)
2. Name of applicant: Cape George Land Company, LLC
Jul 29 2021
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3. Address and phone number of applicant and contact person: Dave Clarke, P.O. Box 4438,
Tumwater, WA 98501 (253) 927-5200
4. Date checklist prepared: July 29, 2021
5. Agency requesting checklist: Jefferson County Department of Community Development
6. Proposed timing or schedule (including phasing, if applicable):
The BLA Application and a Clearing and Grading Permit Application have been submitted and
revisions to both are currently being reviewed. Land clearing should begin once the Clearing and
Grading permit is issued (current estimate is fall 2021, weather dependent). The central portion of
the property (9 lots, numbered T-to-AB) are projected to be developed first since utilities in Cape
George Road are readily available. The development schedule for the southerly portion (19 lots,
numbered A-to-S) and the portion north of Cape George Road (40 lots) are not yet determined.
The development of the northern section of 40 lots will likely be broken up into two or three smaller
phases. It is estimated that the development of the lots will take approximately 12-to-24 months to
complete but the placement of homes on those lots will take much longer, perhaps up to ten (10)
years.
7. Do you have any plans for future additions, expansion, or further activity related to or
connected with this proposal? If yes, explain.
After each section of lots are developed (roads, utilities, etc.) placement of homes on those lots will
likely begin. It is planned that new multi-section manufactured homes will be placed on the lots,
along with a garage. The roads will be paved once the majority (90%+) of homes in each section
have been installed.
8. List any environmental information you know about that has been prepared, or will be
prepared, directly related to this proposal.
The BLA Application (including soil logs for each proposed new lot, 279 total), a County Clearing
& Grading permit application, a Phase 1 Environmental Report, a Traffic Impact Analysis, a
Timber Cruise, and a Cultural Resources Investigation Report have been prepared to-date. A
Forest Practice Application (FPA) has been drafted and will be submitted later.
9. Do you know whether applications are pending for governmental approvals of other
proposals directly affecting the property covered by your proposal? If yes, explain.
A BLA Application to reconfigure approximately 135 existing lots on 23 tax parcels within the
Irvington Addition Plat into 70 lots was filed on December 30, 2020 and is currently under review.
This BLA Application has since been revised to reconfigure the roads and now has a total of 68 lots.
A revised Clearing and Grading Permit Application based on the revised configuration of the BLA
lots is also currently under review.
10. List any government approvals or permits that will be needed for your proposal, if known.
The BLA approval, a Clearing/Grading permit, Road approach permits, and a Site Development /
Stormwater permit are required from Jefferson County for the site. Individual building permits
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for the placement of homes and installation of septic systems and stormwater facilities are required
from Jefferson County for each individual lot. The FPA permit approval is required from
Washington State Department of Natural Resources. The public water system approval is needed
from the City of Port Townsend.
11. Give brief, complete description of your proposal, including the proposed uses and the size
of the project and site. There are several questions later in this checklist that ask you to
describe certain aspects of your proposal. You do not need to repeat those answers on this
page. (Lead agencies may modify this form to include additional specific information on project
description.)
The development of 27 acres of currently undeveloped (treed) land into 71 homesites. This
development includes: 1) Land Clearing; 2) Installation of new roads, utilities and stormwater
facilities to serve the lots; and 3) Construction of the homes on each individual lot (including the
initial clearing of the lot, extension of water/power/cable utilities, design and installation of septic
systems and stormwater drainage, construction of the home and garage). The BLA is 68 lots.
Inclusion of additional adjacent parcels for access brings the total maximum number of homesites
to 71. Answers to questions to follow will assume the maximum number of (71) home sites. The
homes are planned to be new multi-section manufactured homes.
12. Location of the proposal. Give sufficient information for a person to understand the precise
location of your proposed project, including a street address, if any, and section, township, and
range, if known. If a proposal would occur over a range of area, provide the range or
boundaries of the site(s). Provide a legal description, site plan, vicinity map, and topographic
map, if reasonably available. While you should submit any plans required by the agency, you
are not required to duplicate maps or detailed plans submitted with any permit applications
related to this checklist.
Both sides of Cape George Road lying ¼ mile west of the intersection with S. Discovery Road and
east of Nelson’s Landing Road. If driving west on Cape George Rd. (from Discovery Rd.) the
property starts after 100 Cape George Rd. and ends at 600 Cape George Rd. (with one section of
approximately 1.5 acres south of Cape George Rd. and north of the Scott Trail excluded). Both
Cape George Rd. and The Larry Scott Trail bisect the site east-to-west. Please refer to maps
attached to the BLA Application for visual reference.
Lying in portions of the NE1/4 and SE1/4 of Section 17, Township 30 North, Range 1 West, W.M.,
within the plat of Irvington Addition to Port Townsend, volume 2 of plats at page 96; EXCEPT
Block 2 and the east half of Block 5;
Also, EXCEPT that portion conveyed to Jefferson County for roadway purposes per deed recorded
under Auditor’s File No. 199418
(The Full Legal Description and tax parcel numbers are included as attachments to the BLA
Application (#MLA20-00152). Existing and proposed site plans are also attached to that same
application).
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B. Environmental Elements [HELP]
1. Earth [help]
a. General description of the site:
(circle one): Flat, rolling, hilly, steep slopes, mountainous, other _____________
b. What is the steepest slope on the site (approximate percent slope)? 35%
c. What general types of soils are found on the site (for example, clay, sand, gravel, peat,
muck)? If you know the classification of agricultural soils, specify them and note any
agricultural land of long-term commercial significance and whether the proposal results in
removing any of these soils.
Most of the site is Dick loamy sand, 0-15% slopes. About 5% of the site is listed as having Hoypus
gravelly loamy sand, 0-15% slopes per private soil sampling and the National Resource
Conservation Service web soil survey.
Additional soil details are noted in the Soil log Evaluation dated 10/19/2020 which details the 279
soil lot test holes evaluated as part of the BLA Application.
d. Are there surface indications or history of unstable soils in the immediate vicinity? If so,
describe.
No unstable soils have been observed or noted during any of the site visits.
e. Describe the purpose, type, total area, and approximate quantities and total affected area of
any filling, excavation, and grading proposed. Indicate source of fill.
The Project includes 5,400 linear feet (rounded) of new private access roads. At a 60-foot clear road
width (the road easement is 40-feet plus another 20-feet for utilities), the total area cleared for the
roads is 324,000 s/f, or 7.44 acres. The calculations for the Grading Plan show this activity will
result in 9,376 cubic years of cut material, and 6,455 cubic yards required for fill. Excess cut
material will either be used for fill, redistributed on-site or hauled off site. Fill material required
for road construction will be acquired from local sources as needed to meet construction
specifications.
Estimating that 60% of the remaining land (after the roads) is cleared for the lots results in an
additional 11.74 acres cleared. When added to the 7.44 acres cleared for the roads the total is 19.18
acres cleared on the 27-acre site, or 71%. Cut and fill quantities for each of the individual lots will
be determined (engineered) after the roads and main utilities are installed and will be site specific.
All excavation and grading activities are subject to the detailed regulations for construction of roads
and grading as found at Jefferson County Code (hereafter “JCC”) sections 18.30.080 (Roads) and
18.30.060 (Grading and Excavation).
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f. Could erosion occur as a result of clearing, construction, or use? If so, generally describe.
Potential erosion impacts will be reviewed and mitigated at all steps of the development, starting
from the initial clearing of the site through road construction and eventual placement of homes on
the individual lots. Erosion control Best Management Practices (BMP’s) are required under JCC
18.30.060(3) and will be utilized during grading/clearing activities. The additional requirements of
JCC 18.30.060 (Grading and Excavation) and JCC 18.30.070 (Stormwater) will also apply
throughout the entire development process.
g. About what percent of the site will be covered with impervious surfaces after project
construction (for example, asphalt or buildings)?
10.1% of the site will be covered with impervious surface created by the proposed roads (118,800 s/f
or 2.73 acres per plans). Estimating an additional 3,000 s/f of impervious surface for each of the 71
home sites adds 213,000 s/f (4.89 acres) of future impervious surface, for a total of 331,800 s/f or
7.62 acres. This represents 28.2% of the total site as impervious surface at total project build out.
h. Proposed measures to reduce or control erosion, or other impacts to the earth, if any:
Follow best management practices and permit conditions (which will be developed in accordance
with the regulations found in the JCC) through all phases of the development, starting with the
initial clearing of the site through construction of the roads and installation of utilities, and finally
placement of homes on the individual lots. Limit clearing of existing trees and shrubs/plants
primarily to roads and home sites. Establishing a 20-foot clearing buffer around the perimeter of
the site. Application of required standards (specifically JCC 18.30.060 – Grading and Excavation
Standards and JCC 18.30-070 – Stormwater Management Standards) will effectively minimize the
potential for erosion impacts.
2. Air [help]
a. What types of emissions to the air would result from the proposal during construction,
operation, and maintenance when the project is completed? If any, generally describe and
give approximate quantities if known.
During Land Clearing: Trees and stumps may be burned in conjunction with the initial clearing of
the site. Land Clearing Fires require a permit from East Jefferson Fire and Rescue in accordance
with the Washington State Department of Ecology, Olympic Regional Clean Air Authority
(ORCAA) per R.C.W. 70-94, WAC 173-425 and the International Fire Code 2018 (IFC).
During Construction: Low level exhaust emissions from construction equipment.
Long-term: Low level emissions from auto traffic and possibly, wood smoke from fireplaces or
stoves. Specific emission quantities are believed to be minimal and have not been analyzed in detail.
b. Are there any off-site sources of emissions or odor that may affect your proposal? If so,
generally describe.
No off-site sources of emissions or odor have been identified that will adversely impact this
proposal. Most of the land surrounding the site is developed with low density residential uses (1-to-
5 acre lots to the north, south and west; and 15,000+/- square foot lots to the east). Despite the Pt.
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Townsend Paper Mill being located one mile to the east, the odor of the mill has not been noticed on
the site.
c. Proposed measures to reduce or control emissions or other impacts to air, if any:
During Land Clearing: Follow detailed Land Clearing and Fire permit requirements as they are
very specific and “It is the policy of East Jefferson Fire and Rescue to minimize air
contaminant emissions in a safe manner that is consistent with state law.”
During Construction: Comply with all federal, state and county regulations and properly maintain
equipment and otherwise minimize any impacts to air.
Long Term: Install new ENERGY STAR rated manufactured homes on the site, with electric
appliances and heating systems, avoiding propane and wood burning heat sources.
3. Water [help]
a. Surface Water: [help]
1) Is there any surface water body on or in the immediate vicinity of the site (including
year-round and seasonal streams, saltwater, lakes, ponds, wetlands)? If yes, describe
type and provide names. If appropriate, state what stream or river it flows into.
There are no surface water bodies on or in the immediate vicinity of the site.
2) Will the project require any work over, in, or adjacent to (within 200 feet) the described
waters? If yes, please describe and attach available plans.
The project will not require any work over, in or adjacent to any bodies of water.
3) Estimate the amount of fill and dredge material that would be placed in or removed
from surface water or wetlands and indicate the area of the site that would be affected.
Indicate the source of fill material.
No filling or dredging of wetlands will occur as there are no wetlands on or adjacent to the site.
4) Will the proposal require surface water withdrawals or diversions? Give general
description, purpose, and approximate quantities if known.
No surface water withdrawals or diversions will occur as there are no surface waters on site.
5) Does the proposal lie within a 100-year floodplain? If so, note location on the site plan.
No, the project does not lie within a 100-year floodplain.
6) Does the proposal involve any discharges of waste materials to surface waters? If so,
describe the type of waste and anticipated volume of discharge.
There are no surface waters in the immediate project vicinity, so the proposal will not result in the
discharge of waste materials into any surface waters.
b. Ground Water: [help]
1) Will groundwater be withdrawn from a well for drinking water or other purposes? If so,
give a general description of the well, proposed uses and approximate quantities
withdrawn from the well. Will water be discharged to groundwater? Give general
description, purpose, and approximate quantities if known.
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No groundwater will be withdrawn. The project will use City of Port Townsend water. There
are no wells on the property and no new wells are proposed.
2) Describe waste material that will be discharged into the ground from septic tanks or
other sources, if any (for example: Domestic sewage; industrial, containing the
following chemicals. . . ; agricultural; etc.). Describe the general size of the system, the
number of such systems, the number of houses to be served (if applicable), or the number
of animals or humans the system(s) are expected to serve.
Each home will utilize an individual on-site septic system (OSS) for domestic sewage. The size of
each system will be determined based on the size of the home proposed on each lot and the soil
conditions. There will be 71 individual systems designed for one household each. Most homes are
anticipated to be three-bedroom homes and the soil conditions support a gravity type OSS.
Detailed OSS requirements are found at JCC 18.05.140, JCC 18.30.040 and JCC 8.15. All
applicable requirements will be incorporated into the design and installation of the individual OSS
systems. All waste discharged will be in residential quantities and content, there are no industrial
or commercial uses proposed.
c. Water runoff (including stormwater):
1) Describe the source of runoff (including storm water) and method of collection
and disposal, if any (include quantities, if known). Where will this water flow?
Will this water flow into other waters? If so, describe.
Sources of stormwater runoff come primarily from rainfall on impervious surfaces like roads,
roofs, driveways, any other hard surface that will not absorb the moisture. Stormwater
management review is required for all aspects of this development, which is how the collection and
disposal of the stormwater is addressed. All stormwater activities will comply with the regulations
found at JCC 18.30.070, which includes the minimum standards adopted by the most recent version
of the Washington Department of Ecology Stormwater Management Manual for Western
Washington.
The initial clearing of the site and roughing in of the roads is classified as a “Large Project” and
requires the development of a Construction Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and
an engineered site plan. Once the site is cleared, additional engineered stormwater plans (SWPPP)
will be required for the roads. Then each of the 71 lots will require an individual stormwater plan
(SWPPP) based on the existing conditions and proposed improvements for each specific lot.
There are currently no streams or other sources of stormwater running off the site. It is anticipated
that all future stormwater created by all phases of the development will be appropriately collected,
treated, and dispersed on-site in accordance with approved plans developed and approved based on
the regulations described above.
2) Could waste materials enter ground or surface waters? If so, generally describe.
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When the stormwater facilities are designed, maintained, and installed correctly (per the
requirements referenced above), it is not likely that any significant levels of waste materials will
enter either ground or surface waters.
3) Does the proposal alter or otherwise affect drainage patterns in the vicinity of the site? If
so, describe.
Clearing and developing the site will alter the existing on-site drainage patterns. Installing roads
and developing the home sites will add impervious surfaces that also alter drainage patterns. The
intent of the stormwater review process is to ensure any alterations of the drainage patterns and
addition of impervious surfaces are coupled with the installation of stormwater distribution
facilities to mitigate the impacts to the drainage and it is adequately distributed on-site. Specific
regulations for stormwater are found at JCC 18.30.070.
d. Proposed measures to reduce or control surface, ground, and runoff water, and drainage
pattern impacts, if any: Use of best design technologies and management practices at time of
system(s) installation and grading work. All stormwater activities will comply with the regulations
found at JCC 18.30.070.
4. Plants [help] section not updated
a. Check the types of vegetation found on the site:
__X__deciduous tree: alder, maple, aspen, other
__X__evergreen tree: fir, cedar, pine, other
__X__shrubs: salal, Western sword fern,
____grass
____pasture
____crop or grain
____ Orchards, vineyards or other permanent crops.
____ wet soil plants: cattail, buttercup, bullrush, skunk cabbage, other
____water plants: water lily, eelgrass, milfoil, other
__X__other types of vegetation Scot’s broom, Foxglove, common nettles,
Himalayan blackberry
b. What kind and amount of vegetation will be removed or altered?
Approximately 350-400 mbf of conifer timber will be cut and removed, understory vegetation will
be removed from road locations and future home sites.
c. List threatened and endangered species known to be on or near the site.
There are no threatened or endangered species according to WDNR data for sensitive or State-or
ESA-listed plant species on the subject site and adjacent properties.
d. Proposed landscaping, use of native plants, or other measures to preserve or enhance
vegetation on the site, if any:
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Approximately 29% of the overall project area will maintain existing trees and undergrowth
vegetation, including a 20-foot clearing buffer surrounding the exterior of the site. The existing
vegetation in areas not required to be cleared for road and home construction will be preserved
when possible. Some replanting of similar trees and plants is anticipated as part of the landscaping
for the finished home sites.
e. List all noxious weeds and invasive species known to be on or near the site.
No noxious weeds or invasive species are known to exist on site.
5. Animals [help] section not updated
a. List any birds and other animals which have been observed on or near the site or are known
to be on or near the site.
Examples include:
birds: hawk, heron, eagle, songbirds, other:
mammals: deer, bear, elk, beaver, other: raccoon
fish: bass, salmon, trout, herring, shellfish, other ________
b. List any threatened and endangered species known to be on or near the site.
No endangered species are listed according to WDFW Priority Habitat and Species (PHS) for the
property and adjacent areas (2021).
c. Is the site part of a migration route? If so, explain.
Yes, technically western Washington is part of the Pacific Flyway for migratory birds.
d. Proposed measures to preserve or enhance wildlife, if any:
Maintain a significant portion of the timber and underbrush within the project area, including a 20-
foot clearing restriction area around the perimeter of the site.
e. List any invasive animal species known to be on or near the site.
No invasive animal species have been observed and none are known to be near; see item b above
6. Energy and Natural Resources [help]
a. What kinds of energy (electric, natural gas, oil, wood stove, solar) will be used to meet
the completed project's energy needs? Describe whether it will be used for heating,
manufacturing, etc.
During clearing, grading and construction diesel and gas will be utilized for equipment. Upon
project completion, the homes will utilize primarily electricity for their energy needs. Wood and
propane may be added for heating or solar energy may be added to replace or supplement
electricity to any of the homes in the future. All energy requirements are for residential use only, no
commercial or manufacturing uses are proposed.
.
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b. Would your project affect the potential use of solar energy by adjacent properties?
If so, generally describe.
This project will not inhibit the use of solar energy on adjacent properties as we are removing some
timber. Adjacent properties may experience an increase of solar capability.
c. What kinds of energy conservation features are included in the plans of this proposal?
List other proposed measures to reduce or control energy impacts, if any:
New manufactured homes have specific energy efficiency standards set by the federal government
in the HUD code. In addition, the EPA administers the ENERGY STAR construction program
which promotes higher standards of energy efficiency through advanced design and construction.
Any ENERGY STAR home manufacturer must be approved at the plant level and inspected for
program compliance by an approved third party. Palm Harbor Homes, our projected home
supplier, has been building ENERGY STAR certified homes since 1997. We plan to install
ENERGY STAR Certified homes.
Jefferson County’s adoption of National and State Building Codes is referenced at JCC 15.05.030,
which would apply to any conventional “stick built” homes built on the site.
7. Environmental Health [help]
a. Are there any environmental health hazards, including exposure to toxic chemicals, risk
of fire and explosion, spill, or hazardous waste, that could occur as a result of this proposal?
If so, describe.
There do not appear to be any significant short-term risks (during construction) or long-term risks
(from residential occupancy of the homes) of environmental health hazards. Potential construction
impacts would most likely be caused by fuel leaks from construction equipment or dust and exhaust
caused by clearing and road construction and removal of non-merchantable timber and
underbrush. Long-term environmental risks from residential uses would come from fuel leaks or
spills from vehicles, or possibly propane tanks or other chemicals stored at a residence or the use of
fertilizers, and vehicle exhaust or smoke from burning. The Contractor and Developer will be
responsible for any short-term impacts during construction. These construction activities are
regulated and the chances for a significant environmental event are low. The homeowners who
purchase the homes will be responsible for their actions long-term. Again, the chances for a
significant environmental event to occur at a residence are low.
1) Describe any known or possible contamination at the site from present or past uses.
No contamination is known to exist. The Phase 1 Environmental Report prepared by Aerotech
Environmental Consulting Inc. dated June 30, 2020 revealed no record of any contamination on
or near the site and recommended no further action.
2) Describe existing hazardous chemicals/conditions that might affect project development
and design. This includes underground hazardous liquid and gas transmission pipelines
located within the project area and in the vicinity.
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There are no contamination conditions or issues known to exist on the site or in the immediate
vicinity. See the Aerotech Phase 1 Report for additional detail.
3) Describe any toxic or hazardous chemicals that might be stored, used, or produced
during the project's development or construction, or at any time during the operating
life of the project.
Fuel tanks for construction equipment used during the construction phase is the most likely
significant hazardous chemical that will be stored on-site. Oil based road surfacing material will
likely be brought in by an outside contractor when needed and not stored on-site. Once homes
are built and occupied, propane tanks and storage of various flammable materials by individual
homeowners are the most likely potential hazardous chemicals.
4) Describe special emergency services that might be required.
Emergency medical, police or fire department support could be required in the case of an
accident, either during construction or long-term.
5) Proposed measures to reduce or control environmental health hazards, if any:
No significant environmental health hazards are anticipated because of this project, so specific
risk reduction measurers (beyond the use of BMP’s embedded into the permit requirements
already) are not necessary.
b. Noise
1) What types of noise exist in the area which may affect your project (for example:
traffic, equipment, operation, other)?
There are no known significant sources of off-site noise that would impact the project.
2) What types and levels of noise would be created by or associated with the project on a
short-term or a long-term basis (for example: traffic, construction, operation, other)? Indi-
cate what hours noise would come from the site.
Short term noise will come from chainsaws, logging and construction equipment. The level of noise
will vary and be noticeable to the neighbors at times but not significant. Long term: typical
neighborhood noise suck as lawnmowers, radios, backyard gatherings. Construction noise will be
limited to allowed working hours.
3) Proposed measures to reduce or control noise impacts, if any:
Noise will be regulated by specific hours of operation and compliance with County Noise
Regulations found at JCC 18.30.190 and JCC 8.70. Construction noise may have additional limits
imposed as permit conditions.
8. Land and Shoreline Use [help]
a. What is the current use of the site and adjacent properties? Will the proposal affect current
land uses on nearby or adjacent properties? If so, describe.
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The current use of the site is naturally growing trees. There is an adjacent recreational trail (the
Larry Scott Trail) bisecting the site. The recreational trail will be maintained. Opportunities for
enhanced access to the Trail or possibly some user parking may become available as discussions
with the County progress. Adjacent properties are primarily used for residential home sites of
various sizes ranging from ¼ acre to 5-acres.
b. Has the project site been used as working farmlands or working forest lands? If so, describe.
How much agricultural or forest land of long-term commercial significance will be converted to
other uses as a result of the proposal, if any? If resource lands have not been designated,
how many acres in farmland or forest land tax status will be converted to nonfarm or
nonforest use?
While most of the project area is currently in timber, it is not a ‘working forest’ as this site has
been platted but undeveloped for decades and we are seeking to develop it now with this
project. There are no commercial forest or farming activities on the site. None of the land is
currently designated as open space or forest land for tax purposes.
1) Will the proposal affect or be affected by surrounding working farm or forest land normal
business operations, such as oversize equipment access, the application of pesticides,
tilling, and harvesting? If so, how:
There are no adjacent land uses that appear to adversely impact the proposed use of the
property. There also does not appear to be any neighboring farming or forest land operations to
be negatively affected by the proposed project.
c. Describe any structures on the site.
There are currently no structures on the project site. There are two existing gravel driveways used
to access neighboring homes that cross the site, both will be retained.
d. Will any structures be demolished? If so, what?
There are currently no structures on the site to demolish.
e. What is the current zoning classification of the site?
RR-5: Rural residential - Land use code is 9100: Vacant Land.
f. What is the current comprehensive plan designation of the site?
Rural Residential
g. If applicable, what is the current shoreline master program designation of the site?
The site is not within any shoreline jurisdiction and the site is not addressed under any designation
of the SMP.
h. Has any part of the site been classified as a critical area by the city or county? If so, specify.
The site is not classified as a critical area on any of the County GIS maps, and site inspections do
not reveal any critical areas as defined at JCC 18.22.
i. Approximately how many people would reside or work in the completed project?
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When fully completed (and based on 2.8 people per average U.S. household) there will be
approximately 200 residents.
j. Approximately how many people would the completed project displace?
No persons will be displaced by this project.
k. Proposed measures to avoid or reduce displacement impacts, if any:
No measures are needed as there are no displacement impacts.
L. Proposed measures to ensure the proposal is compatible with existing and projected land
uses and plans, if any:
Review by County Community Development of permit applications and related plans, and public
comments on this checklist should ensure the proposal is compatible with existing and projected
land uses and land use plans.
m. Proposed measures to reduce or control impacts to agricultural and forest lands of long-term
commercial significance, if any:
There are no known agricultural or commercial forestry uses are in the vicinity of the site, so no
mitigation is required.
9. Housing [help]
a. Approximately how many units would be provided, if any? Indicate whether high, mid-
dle, or low-income housing.
71 new middle-income housing units will be provided.
b. Approximately how many units, if any, would be eliminated? Indicate whether high,
middle, or low-income housing.
No housing will be eliminated. This project will add needed housing.
c. Proposed measures to reduce or control housing impacts, if any:
The housing impacts of this project are positive; it adds 71 new housing units to a community that
badly needs them. Three (3) of the lots will be donated to Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson
County for use in their homeownership program. There may be additional opportunities to
partner with Habitat on other lots in the future.
10. Aesthetics [help]
a. What is the tallest height of any proposed structure(s), not including antennas; what is
the principal exterior building material(s) proposed?
Building height is approximately 16 feet for a typical double wide manufactured home. The peak of
a single-family home would be about the same height. A triple wide manufactured home or a two-
story single-family home would be approximately 20-to-25 feet tall. A detached garage will be
approximately 15 feet high at the peak. Exterior building materials will be composite roofing and
wood or cement board siding.
b. What views in the immediate vicinity would be altered or obstructed?
SEPA Environmental checklist (WAC 197-11-960) July 2016 Page 14 of 17
No significant views are currently present as the site is fully treed and undeveloped. Clearing and
site development may in some cases open some territorial views from some of the lots. Existing
views from nearby properties may be altered by the removal of trees and the development, but
existing views will not likely be obstructed.
b. Proposed measures to reduce or control aesthetic impacts, if any:
Maintaining a substantial portion of the native vegetation, replanting in some areas if needed (to
shield home sites from road noise and/or glare), establish a 20-foot clearing restriction around the
perimeter of the site, record restrictive covenants (CC&R’s) containing minimum standards for lot
and home development.
11. Light and Glare [help]
a. What type of light or glare will the proposal produce? What time of day would it mainly
occur?
Illumination from homes, streetlights and cars are the primary sources of light and will occur
primarily at night.
b. Could light or glare from the finished project be a safety hazard or interfere with views?
It is very unlikely any light or glare will be a safety hazard or interfere with views as most light will
occur only at night and streetlights and headlights from vehicles and streetlights increases safety at
night.
c. What existing off-site sources of light or glare may affect your proposal?
There are no known sources of off-site light or glare that are expected to impact this proposal.
d. Proposed measures to reduce or control light and glare impacts, if any:
Any exterior and outdoor lighting will be “low level” indirect lighting. Retention of existing
vegetation and/or replanting will likely screen some homes from view which will reduce light
impacts.
12. Recreation [help]
a. What designated and informal recreational opportunities are in the immediate vicinity?
Hiking, horseback riding and biking on the Larry Scott Trail which bisects the subject site and
connects the future residents with the Milo Curry Trailhead near Discovery Bay to the south and to
downtown Pt. Townsend and Pt. Townsend Bay at the Port of Pt. Townsend Boat Haven Trailhead
to the west.
b. Would the proposed project displace any existing recreational uses? If so, describe.
No recreation uses will be displaced by this project.
c. Proposed measures to reduce or control impacts on recreation, including recreation
opportunities to be provided by the project or applicant, if any:
Jefferson County owns a 100-foot-wide section of land for the trail adjacent to the project site, so
this development will not adversely impact the use of the trail. We will want to maintain some
SEPA Environmental checklist (WAC 197-11-960) July 2016 Page 15 of 17
vegetation or replant or build fencing to screen the back yards of the lots adjacent to the trail, but
this is primarily for the benefit of the homeowners as this section of the trail is wide and well treed
and the development of this project will not negatively impact or encroach on the trail.
13. Historic and cultural preservation [help]
a. Are there any buildings, structures, or sites, located on or near the site that are over 45 years
old listed in or eligible for listing in national, state, or local preservation registers? If so,
specifically describe.
There are no structures on the site.
b. Are there any landmarks, features, or other evidence of Indian or historic use or occupation?
This may include human burials or old cemeteries. Are there any material evidence, artifacts,
or areas of cultural importance on or near the site? Please list any professional studies
conducted at the site to identify such resources.
No evidence of any historical landmarks or Indian occupation has been found on the site. Jacobs
Engineering conducted a Cultural Resource Investigation (Report July, 2021) that included a
historical review of records and a detailed site investigation. The result of this research is that no
archaeological resources were identified in the records search, and one archaeological resource was
discovered during the site investigation; but this discovery was not archaeologically significant.
c. Describe the methods used to assess the potential impacts to cultural and historic resources
on or near the project site. Examples include consultation with tribes and the department of
archeology and historic preservation, archaeological surveys, historic maps, GIS data, etc.
Jacobs Engineering accessed WISAARD on April 30, 2021, to check for previously recorded
cultural resources and previously completed surveys within one mile of the project site. They
reviewed the two cultural resource surveys previously completed withing the one-mile radius (both
of which were negative for cultural resources). They reviewed aerial photos dating back to 1939.
They sent email notice of the Cultural Resource Investigation to potentially interested Tribes in the
area. See the Jacobs Engineering Cultural Resource Investigative Report dated July 2021 for
further description of the research methods used.
d. Proposed measures to avoid, minimize, or compensate for loss, changes to, and disturbance
to resources. Please include plans for the above and any permits that may be required.
Jacobs Engineering has prepared an Inadvertent Discovery Plan for Archaeological or Cultural
Resources and Human Remains in accordance with RCW 27.44 (Revised Code of Washington),
27.53 (Indian Graves and Records), RCW 68.50 (Human Remains) and RCW 68.60 (Abandoned
and Historic Cemeteries and Historic Graves).
No other measures are currently proposed as no evidence of Cultural Resources of Significance was
found. If new information identifies potential impacts appropriate measures will be taken.
Detailed procedures and references are detailed in the Jacobs Report and at JCC 18.30.160.
14. Transportation [help]
SEPA Environmental checklist (WAC 197-11-960) July 2016 Page 16 of 17
a. Identify public streets and highways serving the site or affected geographic area and
describe proposed access to the existing street system. Show on site plans, if any.
Primary access will come via Cape George Rd. with four access points. The largest section of the
site to the north of Cape George Rd. (40 lots) has two entry points that are looped together. The
center section (9 lots) has two access points that are not connected, one serving four lots, the other
serving five lots. The 19 lots in the section south of the Larry Scott Trail access off Discovery Rd.
b. Is the site or affected geographic area currently served by public transit? If so, generally
describe. If not, what is the approximate distance to the nearest transit stop?
The site is not directly served by public transit. The nearest transit stop is .5 miles away to the NE at
the intersection of S. Jacob Miller Rd. and Hwy 20.
c. How many additional parking spaces would the completed project or non-project proposal
have? How many would the project or proposal eliminate?
No parking would be eliminated; At least four (4) parking spaces would be provided for each home,
a total of 284 parking spaces.
D. Will the proposal require any new or improvements to existing roads, streets, pedestrian,
bicycle or state transportation facilities, not including driveways? If so, generally describe
(indicate whether public or private).
The Traffic Impact Analysis prepared by Heath Traffic analyzed projected traffic impacts from the
68 new lots as proposed in the BLA Application and determined that the impacts to existing roads
are minimal and does not recommend upgrades to the existing road system.
Access to the homesites will be provided by new private roads designed as required at JCC
18.30.080. Most of the new private roads are designed as “Local Access Roads” which consists of a
22-foot-wide paved roadway (a 9-foot lane and 2-foot shoulder in each direction) without bike lanes
or sidewalks.
e. Will the project or proposal use (or occur in the immediate vicinity of) water, rail, or air
transportation? If so, generally describe.
The project does not lie in the immediate vicinity of water, rail, or air transportation.
f. How many vehicular trips per day would be generated by the completed project or proposal?
If known, indicate when peak volumes would occur and what percentage of the volume would
be trucks (such as commercial and non-passenger vehicles). What data or transportation
models were used to make these estimates?
The project is estimated to generate 729 new average weekday daily trips, with 53 trips (13
inbound, 40 outbound) occurring in the AM peak hour, and 70 trips (44 inbound, 26 outbound)
occurring in the PM peak hour. Please refer to the Traffic Impact Analysis prepared by Heath
Traffic for additional details and methodology.
g. Will the proposal interfere with, affect or be affected by the movement of agricultural and
forest products on roads or streets in the area? If so, generally describe.
SEPA Environmental checklist (WAC 197-11-960) July 2016 Page 17 of 17
As there are not nearby agricultural or forest product businesses or lands in the vicinity, this
project is not likely to impact the movement of these goods. Any existing movement of these
items through the project site area would be part of the traffic counts taken for the TIA.
h. Proposed measures to reduce or control transportation impacts, if any:
The lots and Private Road system were designed to minimize traffic impacts where possible. Two
existing driveways serving neighboring properties will be incorporated into the design of the Private
Road system and retained.
15. Public Services [help]
a. Would the project result in an increased need for public services (for example: fire protection,
police protection, public transit, health care, schools, other)? If so, generally describe.
Yes, the addition of homes and more people will result in an increased need for all public services.
The increase will not likely be significant, but there will be an increase.
b. Proposed measures to reduce or control direct impacts on public services, if any.
The use of private roads instead of building public roads will reduce future road maintenance
expenses (for the County). Efficient site layout and fire hydrant placement could reduce response
times in case of an emergency. Impacts to off-site public services such as schools or parks are
difficult to mitigate other than by assessment of impact fees if authorized by County Code.
16. Utilities [help]
a. Circle utilities currently available at the site:
electricity, natural gas, water, refuse service, telephone, sanitary sewer, septic system,
other ___________
b. Describe the utilities that are proposed for the project, the utility providing the service,
and the general construction activities on the site or in the immediate vicinity which might
be needed.
Jefferson P.U.D. will provide electricity. City of Port Townsend will provide water.
Century Link and Comcast will provide television and/or internet.
Septic will be on an individual lot basis.
C. Signature [HELP]
The above answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that the
lead agency is relying on them to make its decision.
Signature: ___________________________________________________
Name of signee: Dave Clarke
Position and Agency/Organization: Member, Cape George Land Company, L.L.C.
Date Submitted: _____________
7/29/2021