HomeMy WebLinkAboutAll Comments to PC - Temp Housing Ord.T P19:15
Joel Peterson
From:
Todd <tda61751 @gmail.com>
Sent:
�iuesday. May 3. 2Q 2 3:49 PM
To:
Joel Peterson
Cc:
Todd Armstrong
Subject:
Quote from Pat's village resident
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are not expecting them.
Until you have none, it is probably not possible to adequately
understand the value of community. Humans are designed for
connection, belonging, cooperation, and yes, love. When every
aspect of your life is in constant flux, you start to become
disregulated. Even a bit feral (a consequence of no privacy.) When
you make it up five minutes in advance, your Iif e has no structure,
beyond what you impose on it. Every human encounter is with a
stranger, and without the stability of place, and community, your
ability to integrate, to connect deeply, slips away. As the memories
of a home recede with time, life without one just becomes your new
normal. The mere logistics of Iif e's demands - food, safety, money,
shelter, hygiene - can be insurmountable. Once you've fallen far
enough, just getting back to that f irst rung on the ladder can seem,
(and often is), unachievable. Purpose fades. Hope just hurts.
All of which is why Pat's Place is such a promising concept, to my
way of thinking. It is designed to foster community. To help those
who manage to..... transition back into society and housing, by f irst
transitioning back into community. To learn, or dust off long
disused skills and attitudes, and, yes, recivilize.
I
Brilliant! A very warm thank you to all of you. I feel lucky to be
here.
Joel it was great to meet you today. Here is the quote I mentioned.
Again it is the most articulate statement of the value of what we
are doing that I can imagine.
He had a paid in full property on the Oregon coast with his wife.
She got cancer. Three years after her diagnosis he lost her to
cancer and their property to the cost of her care. He was
distraught and homeless for three years before he moved into
Pat's place.
This is the testimony of so many of our neighbors living through the
circumstances and hardships of life...
Thanks for the work you are doing Joel to create a new pathway
for us all in compassionate community
Todd Armstrong
z
Joel Peterson
From:
Marcia Kelbon <mkelbon@outlook.com>
Sent:
Wednesday, May 4, 2022 7:13 PM
To:
Joel Peterson
Subject:
Comment on Ordinance MLA22-0035
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Dear Planning Commissioners,
I am sorry for the technical difficulties in providing verbal comments at tonight's meeting. A summary of the verbal
comments I provided follows:
I am not in favor of the proposed ordinance revisions other than the additions of fire safety codes, additions of codes of
conduct (though this should also account for surrounding residents), and the cooling off period between serial
occupancies of a site.
I am concerned that the scope of potential number and scale of homeless encampments is too undefined and unlimited.
And the authority of the DCD director to decide scale, siting, setbacks, etc. is too broad for any individual, no matter how
talented.
Not enough consideration is being given to community impact, including public safety due to the potential inclusion of
registered sex offenders and active warrants, and cost.
I am aware of the Boise decision but other jurisdictions are finding ways to comply with this while still setting
requirements to access shelter services. Neighboring jurisdictions (e.g., Seattle, Kitsap) are sweeping encampments
while presumably complying with the legal standards. And these actions may indeed swell our homeless population here
given the proposed approach.
Rather then spending on additional encampments we should spend available funds from the State on screening and
treatment for those residents in need of addiction treatment or mental health treatment. Otherwise we are just
warehousing people without the chance of changing their trajectories in life.
Our ability to fund other encampments is unclear and quetionable. ARPA funds have been used largely to date and that
is drying up. And we cannot afford to divert funding from public safety, infrastructure, etc.
For the minority of individuals in encampments who are not afflicted by addiction or mental illness, the solution is to
increase housing and true living wage jobs, not the building of encampments.
Even at the stage, before adopting an expansive ordinance like this, there should be public transparency:
Where might possible additional facilities be situated?
What would be their proposed scale?
How would the construction of future facilities be funded and how would operation of current and future
facilities be funded?
Thank you,
Marcia Kelbon
273 River Ridge Road
Quilcene
Candidate for County Commissioner, District 3
823 Commerce Loop, Port Townsend, WA 98368
Phone (360) 385-2571 Fax: (360) 385-5185
E-mail: cherish r olycap.org
May 4, 2022
Jefferson County Washington
Department of Community Development,
Attn. MLA22-00035 Temporary Housing Ordinance,
621 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368
email to jpeterson cr,co jefferson.wa. us
commisiondesk co.iefferson.wa.us
Please reconsider the following:
Section 5. Construction and Life Safety Requirements
b) one operable window allows far user -controlled ventilation. Window must meet egress
requirements and be located on a separate wall from the door.
This does not consider those in RVs, campers, or cars being housed in encampments.
d) Tents must meet a minimum distance of ten feet apart, Wooden tents and buildings a minimum of
five feet or more apart. RV's a minimum offive feet or more apart, applies to awnings. If mixed use
then the most restrictive distance applies.
Where does the justification for these distances come from? Please consider the amount of space that
has to be cleared to accommodate spacing. This spacing increases the utility costs of running
electrical, water, and the like.
e) Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide detector with 10 year lithium batteries. shall be provided
and maintained within each bedroom shelter;
This is prohibitive when people are using RVs, campers, cars and tents. Those with mental health
and substance abuse issues may not be able to maintain these devices and by the time one of these
devices were to go off, other persons would likely have a visual on any issues.
fi Fire Extinguisher. with a minimum rating of I A:10-B: C for each structure to be inspected yearly
per IFC will be provided in all wooden tents and community buildings.
It would be wise to have fire extinguishers outside of structures, but again, it is not potentially wise
to have these devices inside structures with persons that may not be able to maintain responsibility of
these devices that do have a cost associated with procurement and refilling.
l) Wooden tents/Emergency Shelters; exterior porch style light required if dusk to dawn exterior
lighting not provided, must be hard wired with outlets, in wall mounted heaters or free-standing
heaters that meet national standards such as UL and Auto tilt shut off. All wooden tents/emergency
shelters must be permanently affixed with an "Emergency Shelter" label on the door frame of each
unit.
These requirements need separated, lighting versus labeling of structures. Again, this requirement
may be cost prohibitive for temporary facilities.
p) All structures will be provided with a landing with steps and a handrail when necessary.
Who or what entity would determine "when necessary?"
Finally, overall, there must be a balance between the requirements sought and how "temporary" a
site can really be? When you ask for certain requirements, then the cost necessary to meet all of
those requirements starts to eliminate the "temporary" nature of a potential site. I would caution
against so many requirements that you are creating permanency in order to meet said requirements.
No entity should face the cost burdens of meeting requirements and then having to face how long a
site is used. So, are you creating a "temporary" site space- or are you creating permanent sites that
can not be abandoned after 180 days, or two years? What will differentiate between a temporary site
facility, and one that will be used as housing for people who can or cannot stay for certain time
periods. Once you ask so much within an ordinance, you are trying to create social services instead
of focusing on the actual developmental logistics. I advise trusting the social service providers to
have the experience and expertise to manage populations sought to be housed.
Thank you for your time and attention to the unhoused in this county.
Sincerely,
/. /- /-S-
Cherish L. Cronmiller
Executive Director
Comments on Temporary Homeless Facilities Draft Ordinance
Prepared by: Tiny Home Community Housing Action Team, Housing
Solutions Network
Date: April 20, 2022
Our review of the Temporary Housing Facilities Ordinance draft included in the April
201h 2022 Planning Commission meeting packet produced the following comments.
The comments are given in order of the relevant paragraph's appearance in the
ordinance.
1. Clarify the term "community -driven"
(1)(j) ... The sponsor or managing agency shall implement a community -driven
code of conduct to implement said policies.
The term "community -driven' may be misconstrued as to refer to the community -
at -large. We recommend that the paragraph more explicitly refer to the facility's
community of residents and management, for example, as in "... shall implement a
resident facility's community -driven code of conduct".
We note that recent research by the Portland State University's Homelessness
Research and Action Collaborative found that having a voice in decision -making at
the village positively impacted the residents' satisfaction.
httl2s://www. pdx. ed uZ homelessness evaluation-b t-practices-villa a - model
2. Extend the Operations Qualifications to Include Lived Experience
(k) An operations plan must be provided that addresses site management, site
maintenance, and provision of human and social services. Individuals or
organizations shall have either a demonstrated experience providing similar
services to homeless residents; and/or certification or academic credentials in an
applicable human service field; and/or applicable experience in a related program
with a homeless population.
The lived experience of many homeless individuals qualifies them to provide "site
management, site maintenance, and provision of human and social services." It is
common practice for many temporary housing facilities for residents with lived
experience to participate in operations. For example, the co -managers as well as
the paid monitors at the Warming Shelter in Port Townsend have lived experience.
Some villages have been instituted and are entirely managed by individuals whose
primary qualifications are "lived experience". Please insert the phrase "and/or lived
experience" into the list of qualifications.
3. Revise the requirement for background checks to match practice.
(1)(q) The sponsor and the managing agency shall take all reasonable and legal
steps to obtain verifiable identification information, to include full name and date of
Page 1 of 4
birth, from current and prospective facility residents and use the identification to
obtain sex offender and warrant checks from appropriate agencies....
Current practice at area managing agencies is to perform background checks of
prospective facility residents. While we agree with the intent of the draft's
provision, we suggest the wording, "... and complete a background check with the
appropriate agencies", as more clearly reflecting practice than the current phrasing,
"...use the identification to obtain sex offender and warrant checks". We feel the
latter may imply a refusal of services to clients with low-level offenses, such as a
warrant for driving with an expired license.
4. Eliminate the requirement for an egress -type window.
(2)(b) One operable window allows for user -controlled ventilation. Window must
meet egress requirements and be located on a separate wall from the door.
The requirement for an egress window is beyond what is required in the Residential
Building Code for a permanent residence, which is one exterior egress for a single
room. In the existing shelter design used by Community build for Peter's and Pat's
Place shelters, there are two windows, each on opposite walls. Egress is provided
by a steel door. The windows are single hung windows, with a rough opening
24"x36" tall. By comparison, a minimum -sized egress window is typically a
casement 30"x48" tall.
Please note that this requirement was only introduced in this draft. Reasons in
favor of the smaller, single hung window, over an egress casement window include:
1. The single hung is more appropriate in scale to the proportions of the structure.
2. The single hung sits higher in the wall, allowing more usable wall space - usable
area is a main factor in housing a person successfully in a small space.
3. The single hung is easy to operate.
4. The egress window presents a security concern, where, when opened, someone
can crawl in.
5. The single hung is less expensive.
6. The higher placement of the single hung (Y-8" feet above the floor) provides a
decent level of privacy, especially adjacent to the bed.
S. Consolidate Requirements Regarding Items Presenting Fire Hazards
(g) Cooking only allowed in cooking/dining shelter. No fuel gas appliances or
equipment in units.
(j) No smoking, lighted candles (including hot plates), burning of incense or flames
is permitted within any tents, wooden tents. or other type of flames. Must have a
separate dedicated smoking area.
Page 2 of 4
The first sentence of paragraph g, "Cooking only allowed in cooking/dining shelter,"
should be struck as it implies that microwave cooking is prohibited. Currently, Pat's
Place shelters are equipped with microwaves whose use has been approved as part
of the permitting process of Pat's Place.
We recommend further clarifying what fire hazard items and activities are allowed
or disallowed as follows: "The following items and activities are prohibited within
any tent or tiny shelter: fuel gas appliances or equipment, smoking, lighted
candles, burning of incense, flames, and convection or toaster ovens. Microwaves
are allowed. Smoking is allowed in a dedicated smoking area."
6. Re -add Provision to Re -permit
(3)(c) Temporary tiny house villages may be approved for a period of between six
months and up to one year, provided the sponsor and managing agency comply
with all permit conditions. The director may grant two or more extension(s) not to
exceed two additional years.
The previous mark-up of the ordinance contained a provision to allow for re -
permitting of a Tiny Shelter Village beyond the permit period maximum of 3 years.
The exact language was: "After the second extension, the sponsor and managing
agency may apply for a new temporary use permit." We strongly urge that this
sentence be re-inserted into the draft ordinance for reason of best use of the
investment in existing temporary facilities.
While we recognize that there is a considerable need for permanent supportive to
house those currently residing in temporary facilities, this need does not obviate
the need for temporary facilities. Nor do temporary facilities displace the
development of permanent facilities. In fact, temporary housing gives individuals
the stability to transition to permanent housing. It is a both/and situation not an
either/or. Further, the length of stay of an individual in a specific temporary facility
is limited to two years by state law.
Some original tiny shelter villages are still operating after more than five years as
there continues to be a need for them. A re -permitting allowance also allows for the
county to deny the permit if it is found that there is no longer a need for the facility
or to impose additional measures, such as the replacement of inadequate shelters,
as a condition of the permit.
7. Replace References to Homeless Facilities, Tiny Homes and Wooden
Tents with New Terminology
The following paragraphs contain references to "homeless facilities", "tiny homes",
"bedrooms" and "wooden tents" that should be replaced with "housing facilities",
"tiny shelters" or "tiny shelter village" consistent with the title of the ordinance and
the definition of "tiny shelter village" in the ordinance.
Intro paragraph, Purpose; (1)(n); (2)(a); (2)(d); (2)(f); (2)(j); (2)(q)
Page 3 of 4
S. Provide Clear Check List of Building and Site Requirements
Predictability in the building requirements for tiny shelter villages would greatly
facilitate keeping costs at a minimum. Building requirements for village units should
be provided to applicants in a checklist form as is typical for conventional
residential units.
This applies to kitchens as well. Requirements for food handling should be based on
the type of kitchen use as contained in the relevant health and food safety
standards. Both residential and commercial kitchens are allowable. However, we
propose that the ordinance specify as to what uses are allowed with respect to the
type of kitchen permit, for example, explaining that residential kitchens are limited
to single meal preparation by facility residents. We also note there are intermediate
types of uses between residential and commercial uses, such as donor kitchens.
Page 4 of 4
From: l.ibtr,, Palmer
To: Running Commi5wmn Desk
Subject: Language of ordinance relating to housing operated by non -profits and churches
Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2022 6:12:44 PM
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The text below was written by Barbara Morey, a long-time housing advocate living in Port
Townsend. I am "borrowing" her letter since it expresses so clearly the directions I think the
ordinance should go. I apologize for not being able to attend meetings dealing with this issue but I
am closely following - and supporting - the movements toward fair and affordable housing
improvement in Jefferson County. Thank you.
Libby Palmer
2336 Kuhn Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
206-799-0278
"Thank you all for your efforts to modify and develop an ordinance that will address the current
housing crisis by permitting temporary housing facilities operated by churches and other non-
profits in Jefferson County. I appreciate the fact that you have been listening to the public,
including those with lived experience in being unsheltered in our community.
I have a few fine details in some of the language to address:
1) Throughout the document, there are sporadic references to "Emergency" housing. Please
substitute the term "Temporary" for each of these references. "Temporary housing" includes a
wide variety of community housing programs. "Emergency" implies things such as a tsunami or
earthquake. Even though we have declared a housing emergency, our response as a community
is to develop temporary housing efforts of all types --from supported tent encampments and RV
parking (as at Caswell -Brown), to the overnight emergency shelters (as at the Legion Club), and
to transitional housing (such as the Bayside Housing tiny shelters at Peter's Place in Port Hadlock
or Pat's Place in PT.) It is all of these Temporary Housing Facilities that the ordinance addresses.
2) An extension of the permit should not require a Type II process to continue. It is a
management decision. However, if the permit is to be renewed, then it is reasonable to require the
Type II process to ensure that these temporary facilities remain just that, and that they have
minimum impact on the neighborhoods in which they are established.
3) Finally, related to the issue of a perceived decline in property values as a result of the
temporary villages being placed in a neighborhood: First, the properties where these temporary
villages are being placed are owned or managed by non-profit agencies or churches. Their
property is already assessed differently from the residential properties. And, if we we examine the
impact on properties that surround both of the tiny shelter villages, it can be noted that there are,
in actuality, positive impacts in those neighborhoods. The Pat's Place in Port Townsend is nicely
landscaped. It appears that there have been fewer incidents or negative interactions with police or
neighbors or property damage at Peter's Place in Port Hadlock due to these settings. The tiny
structures are pleasing to look at, colorful and neatly maintained --a real contrast to some of the
properties in our neighborhoods that have broken down vehicles and garbage collections all over
the property. They are managed by a reputable agency or church, so complaints and issues that
may develop can be addressed directly. In my way of thinking, these temporary facilities create a
positive impact on the neighborhood. With property values rising at unprecedented rates --which
may be the cause of some of the residents in the villages becoming homeless to start with --I view
the addition of these temporary, supported housing facilities to add to the value of the properties in
the neighborhood as compared to occupied sheds and broken down RV's on our streets.
We are in the midst of a housing crisis. Our response as a community to provide and support such
temporary, structured transitional housing is a humane and effective means of addressing the
immediate needs of our community with a value placed on humanity over money!
It takes the whole village..."
From: Atlnalee McConnell
To: Mannino Commission Desk
Subject: Comments in Ordinance for Temporary Housing Facilities
Date: Monday, May 2, 2022 11:05:27 AM
Attachments: HSN C4nirneats_on Draft ,idriUllY..L?W1.UJUce.odf
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Dear Commissioners,
I fully support the attached 4/20/22 recommendations on the Temporary Homeless
Facilities Draft Ordinance that were prepared by the Housing Solutions Network's
(HSN) Tiny Home team. I'm an active Community Build volunteer who helped
construct the tiny homes at Pat's Place and provide its neighbors with accurate
information about how the village would look and be managed. Based on my
experience with Pat's Place, I believe HSN's Tiny Home Team comments on the
draft ordinance are solid and practical.
As you know, there was strong initial push -back from some Pat's Place neighbors to
the idea of a temporary village. However, I believe it resulted mainly from the
unfortunate way in which they found out about the permit application: a city -posted
sign announcing a "temporary tent encampment." Many were reassured right away
when we told them the actual plans for Pat's Place. As we began to put the village in
place, I was struck by the overwhelmingly supportive comments from
neighbors walking by. We held an open house for the neighbors just before the first
people moved into the tiny homes and their delighted reactions to the final result
were heartfelt and affirming.
Thank you for taking such positive action on housing issues in Jefferson County.
With these recommended modifications, I think the draft ordinance would be a very
big step forward.
Sincerely,
Annalee McConnell
Port Townsend resident
�goN C. JEFFERSON COUNTY
0 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
621 Sheridan Street I Port Townsend, WA 98368
o� ►' 360-379-4450 1 email: dcd@co.jefferson.wa.us
�sJQ Nc+C� www.co.jefferson.wa.us/commdevelopment
TO: Joel Peterson, Associate Planner, Community Development
FROM: Jodi Adams, Permit & Admin Manager Community Development
Phil Cecere, Plans Examiner, Community Development
DATE: April 29, 2022
RE: Response to early comments received on Temporary Housing Ordinance
Section 5. Construction and Life Safety Requirements
• Comment received to eliminate the requirement for an egress -type window.
4/22/22 Discussed comment with East Jefferson Fire and Rescue. Compromise presented to
give an alternative to installing the egress window. Incorporated compromise into ordinance.
(b) one operable window allows for user -controlled ventilation. Window must meet egress
requirements and be located on a separate wall from the door.
OR
Outswing door from the travel of egress leaving the tiny shelter, with landing appropriately
sized for swing of door with handrails if over 30" in height.
0 Consolidate Requirements presenting fire hazards.
Modified language to allow microwaves in tiny shelters. Other items related to fire hazards are
in section (j), saw no need to consolidate.
(g) The following items and activities are prohibited within any tent or tiny shelter; fuel gas
appliances or equipment, flames, or convection or toaster ovens. Microwaves are allowed.
Cooking activities, outside the use of a microwave, is only allowed in cooking/dining shelter.
Left unchanged:
(j) No smoking, lighted candles (including hot plates), burning of incense or flames is permitted
within any tents, wooden tiny shelters, or other type of flames. Must have a separate dedicated
smoking area.
• Provide clear checklist of building and site requirements.
Will create a checklist that will be provided with the permit application.
Language update from Wooden Tents to Wooden Tiny Shelters or Emergency Shelters.
Updated language to be consistent with rest of ordinance.
• Clarified language between Wooden Tiny Shelter and Tiny Home
(s) Any emergency structure that is built as a tiny home, or has more than one sleeping area,
must be built to International Residential Code Appendix Q—Tiny Homes or be affixed with a
label from WA State Labor and Industries
Section 5. Construction and Life Safety Requirements
(a) All bedroom shelters and common use structures shall be subject to periodic inspections by the fire
code official and/or fire marshal per Section 104 of the current adopted International Fire Code. An
inspection of the entire site, including structures, as necessary, will be conducted prior to any extensions
of the Temporary Use approval.
(b) one operable window allows for user -controlled ventilation. Window must meet egress
requirements and be located on a separate wall from the door.
OR
Outswing door from the travel of egress leaving the tiny shelter, with landing appropriately sized for
swing of door with handrails if over 30" in height.
(c) Doors and Windows; No locks or latches that might inhibit an emergency escape from within the
unit. A single cylinder deadbolt lock or lever -handled door latch is permitted, as long as it does not
require the use of a tool or key to lock or unlock it from inside [lie unit.
(d) Tents must meet a minimum distance of ten feet apart, wooden tiny shelters and buildings a
minimum of five feet or more apart. RV's a minimum of five feet or more apart, applies to awnings. If
mixed use then the most restrictive distance applies.
(e) Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide detector with 10-year lithium batteries. shall be provided and
maintained within each bedroom shelter and community building.
(f) Fire Extinguisher. with a minimum rating of 1-A:10-B:C for each structure to be inspected yearly per
IFC will be provided in all wooden tiny shelters and community buildings.
(g) The following items and activities are prohibited within any tent or tiny shelter; fuel gas appliances or
equipment, flames, or convection or toaster ovens. Microwaves are allowed. Cooking activities, outside
the use of a microwave, is only allowed in cooking/dining shelter.
(h) Fire truck access and turn -around is provided by the existing roadways and hammer -head turn-
around.
(i) If there is a gate to an encampment, an established Knox box with a master key will be provided for
the Fire Department. If the buildings have locks, a master key to all units will be placed in a Knox box for
East Jefferson Fire Rescue.
(j) No smoking, lighted candles (including hot plates), burning of incense or flames is permitted within
any tents, wooden tiny shelters, or other type of flames. Must have a separate dedicated smoking area.
(k) Combustible waste material shall be controlled in accordance with the current adopted International
Fire Code Section 304.
1) Wooden tiny shelters/emergency shelters; exterior porch style light required if dusk to dawn exterior
lighting not provided, must be hard wired with outlets, in wall mounted heaters or free-standing heaters
that meet national standards such as UL and auto tilt shut off. All wooden tiny shelters/emergency
shelters must be permanently affixed with an "Emergency Shelter" label on the door frame of each unit.
(m) Class C interior fire rating (painted plywood), or drywall
(n) Clear numbering of all individual units labeled on the exterior of unit.
(o) The fire marshal or fire code official may determine that hazardous environmental conditions
warrant the temporary restriction or prohibition of smoking or vaping per International Fire Code
Section 310.8.
(p) All structures will be provided with a landing with steps and a handrail when necessary.
(q) Tiny shelter/emergency shelter and community buildings must have a door with a minimum opening
of 32 inches.
(r) Common use structures like restrooms, bathing facilities or kitchens must be labeled by WA State
Labor and Industries or built to International Code requirements and permitted with Jefferson County.
All emergency shelters will be supported by a temporary foundation as approved by the building official
(s) Any emergency structure that is built as a tiny home, or has more than one sleeping area, must be
built to International Residential Code Appendix Q—Tiny Homes or be affixed with a label from WA
State Labor and Industries.
From:
5owie Nichol
To:
PFannino QQMrnS5f013_QIA
Subject:
Draft Temporary Housing Facilities Ordinance
Date:
Tuesday, May 3, 2022 6:59:53 PM
Attachments:
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attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Dear Jefferson County Commissioners,
I am to urge you to adopt the suggested changes by the Housing Solutions Network's to
Jefferson County' draft Temporary Housing Facilities Ordinance. (see
attached.) Allowing permit extensions for Tiny House Villages is critical to ensure their
success. The concept of building and maintaining emergency housing for the unsheltered in
our communities is new and evolving. We need flexibility so we can move forward and
create the best solutions that lead to permanent housing for all in our community.
The purpose of this emergency temporary housing is to help people transition into a
permanent situation. Our time and money should be spent on services for this
population not miring folks in unnecessary bureaucracy that gobbles up government
staff time, volunteer housing advocate time and precious donations.
We all want a to solve this problem. Let's keep it simple and work together. Thank
you for your attention to this matter.
Kind Regards,
Soozie Nichol
S
344 Bayridge Dr
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Soozie
From: call(� McCrea
To: mina Commission €7esk
Subject: Public Comment: Finalizing the Temporary Homeless Facilities Ordinance
Date: Wednesday, May 4, 2022 11:37:40 AM
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attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Jefferson County Planning Commission
Port Townsend, Washington
Dear Planning Commissioners:
Hundreds of local people have invested time. money, building materials, and skilled labor to
make Peter's Place a reality. In light of the overlapping emergencies of Covid-19, job loss,
economic fallout, and mental health stress, the provision of tiny shelters is proving the optimal
opportunity to transition new renters into stable housing.
In finalizing the Temporary Homeless Facilities Ordinance
Use the wording proposed by the Tiny Home Community Housing Action Team of the
Housing Solutions Network in their memo dated April 20, 2022.
Do not require a Type II process for an extension of a temporary housing facility or
community, although it is appropriate for the formal renewal of a permit.
Eliminate the requirement for an egress -type window. Current single hung windows
meet the requirements of the Residential Building Code, provide ease of user -controlled
ventilation, and offer better protection against intruder
I encourage each of you on the Planning Commission to reflect on a situation where, following
difficulties, you are safe, supported, and hopeful with neighbors in a neighborhood. Then after
six months, your new life is disrupted again. Trust the restorative impacts of temporary
villages such as Peter's Places on cities and inhabitants of all income levels.
Please acknowledge that the housing emergency affects essential workers who may require
temporary housing. Real estate costs and rent raises have left many of our food and
agriculture workers, health professionals, and nonprofit staffers out in the cold. Older
established and involved residents such as myself may not be able to remain in Jefferson
County without the basic services provided by these workers.
Thank you for your service.
Sincerely,
Carol McCreary, Volunteer
Community Build & Housing Soilutions Network
650 Hudson Place, Port Townsend WA
503.984.4081
From: Barbara Morey
To: Planalu: Commission Desk
Subject: Public Comment: Temporary Housing Ordinance
Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2022 2:43:30 PM
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attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Thank you all for your efforts to modify and develop an ordinance that will address the
current housing crisis by permitting temporary housing facilities operated by churches
and other non -profits in Jefferson County,
I appreciate the fact that you have been listening to the public, including those with
lived experience in being unsheltered in our community.
I have a few fine details in some of the language to address:
1) Throughout the document, there are sporadic references to "Emergency" housing.
Please substitute the term "Temporary" for each of these references. "Temporary
housing" includes a wide variety of community housing programs. "Emergency"
implies things such as a tsunami or earthquake. Even though we have declared a
housing emergency, our response as a community is to develop temporary housing
efforts of all types --from supported tent encampments and RV parking (as at Caswell -
Brown), to the overnight emergency shelters (as at the Legion Club), and to
transitional housing (such as the Bayside Housing tiny shelters at Peter's Place in
Port Hadlock or Pat's Place in PT.) It is all of these Temporary Housing Facilities that
the ordinance addresses.
2) An extension of the permit should not require a Type II process to continue. It is a
management decision. However, if the permit is to be renewed, then it is reasonable
to require the Type II process to ensure that these temporary facilities remain just
that, and that they have minimum impact on the neighborhoods in which they are
established.
3) Finally, related to the issue of a perceived decline in property values as a result of
the temporary villages being placed in a neighborhood: First, the properties where
these temporary villages are being placed are owned or managed by non-profit
agencies or churches. Their property is already assessed differently from the
residential properties. And, if we we examine the impact on properties that surround
both of the tiny shelter villages, it can be noted that there are, in actuality, positive
impacts in those neighborhoods. The Pat's Place in Port Townsend is nicely
landscaped. It appears that there have been fewer incidents or negative interactions
with police or neighbors or property damage at Peter's Place in Port Hadlock due to
these settings. The tiny structures are pleasing to look at, colorful and neatly
maintained --a real contrast to some of the properties in our neighborhoods that have
broken down vehicles and garbage collections all over the property. They are
managed by a reputable agency or church, so complaints and issues that may
develop can be addressed directly. In my way of thinking, these temporary facilities
create a positive impact on the neighborhood. With property values rising at
unprecedented rates --which may be the cause of some of the residents in the villages
becoming homeless to start with --I view the addition of these temporary, supported
housing facilities to add to the value of the properties in the neighborhood as
compared to occupied sheds and broken down RV's on our streets.
We are in the midst of a housing crisis. Our response as a community to provide and
support such temporary, structured transitional housing is a humane and effective
means of addressing the immediate needs of our community with a value placed on
humanity over money!
It takes the whole village...
Barbara Morey, Housing Advocate
206 326-9022
Resident of Jefferson County/Port Townsend since 1988
bemorey@yahoo.com
Nevertheless, she persisted...
Joel Peterson
From: Peninsula Sportsman LLC <treefrog@olypen.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 4, 2022 10:38 AM
To: Joel Peterson
Subject: Jefferson County RESOLUTION No. 45-21
ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you
are not expecting them.
Well done Jefferson County commissioners! Your planning commission considered the
multitude of comments and concerns from your community over the past year & then with
careful consideration voted to stifle any "burdens" you encountered in regards to installing
homeless tent encampments into any neighborhood of your choosing. Your proposed
ordinance changes of lowering the bar by welcoming warrants or sex offenders, removing fire
restrictions or setbacks and buffers from camps, then any reasonable limitations on the
number of homeless occupant populations in our communities is dangerous. Your short
sighted decisions are paving the way for Port Townsend & Jefferson County to become a new
homeless hub for hire where the mentally ill, addicts & criminals are farmed out for more state
funds while other communities are looking to clean up their towns and offload their own
burdens. This will be fantastic come tourist season! Welcome to the future of Port Townsend:
a picturesque Gotham Victorian Seaport of poverty, crime, abuse & waste. You —the Jeff Co.
commissioners ignore your constituents, sacrifice your neighborhoods then represent nothing
for a safe & sane community... just another reckless and shameful abuse of power.
Dave and T iJ()`any Drewry -- Cape George
1
TO: Jefferson County Planning Commission
FROM: Peter Bonyun
Embracing the concept "that homelessness should be a singular occurrence" as expressed in
Jefferson County's five-year plan to end homelessness, we must acknowledge that transitional
housing is going to be an ongoing necessity. Both temporary and permanent housing are
required to meet the challenge. To this end I urge the Planning Commission to strike the time
limitation for transitional housing villages. The number of such a villages allowed in the county
should also reflect the need rather than any arbitrary limitation.
There is little evidence to support the idea that transitional villages affect property values,
increase crime or endanger public safety in any manner. To the contrary, evidence indicates
that adequately supported villages provide residents opportunities to overcome substance
abuse and make significant progress in recovering their mental health. Both outcomes benefit
the larger society.
It is also important to remember that proscriptive requirements for the construction of temporary
shelters that do little to increase the health and safety, such as egress windows in such a small
structure, only increase the cost of building with little benefit.
I am very appreciative of all the work by the Planning Commission and the Jefferson County
Department of Community Development in crafting this permanent ordinance.
Together the citizenry and our elected representative government have taken crucial first steps
in overcoming homelessness.
Thank you for your consideration of my comments.
Sincerely, Peter Bonyun