HomeMy WebLinkAbout081522 Development on 142 N Maple St_ Port Hadlock________________________________
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Dear Commissioners,
I am writing to once again express my concerns about the single family residential home being built at 142 N Maple St in Port Hadlock (parcel 961804001). This is a shoreline parcel
with a steep slope to Port Townsend Bay that has been identified as a high landslide hazard area, an unstable slope shoreline slope stability hazard area, and an erosion hazard area
under the County’s Critical Areas ordinance. Despite obvious indications that the slope has eroded and slid over time, the applicant produced a geotechnical report indicating that
the slope was stable and the County signed off on their permits, the most recent of which - the building permit for the residence - was issued on August 4, 2022.
After securing their initial permit for a garage/shop in 2021, the landowners cleared much of the vegetation on the slope and in the prescribed 35 foot buffer. In addition, they built
up the lot in a series of lifts and brought in more than 100 truckloads of fill, dramatically recontouring the lot. Given the propensity of the slope to erode and slide, the added
weight of rock and fill seems as if it will greatly magnify the likelihood of a future slide, particularly given the paucity of anchoring vegetation. Keep in mind that this lot adjoins
a beach segment that is actively used by migrating salmon and was restored at great public expense for a county park.
I have filed complaints with the Department of Community Development twice regarding the buffer clearing and fill issues and was told both times that the landowners are compliant with
their permits. I suspect that there is very little to be done at this late date, given that the building permit has been issued, but I wanted to bring the situation to your attention.
It seems to me that the County’s Critical Areas protection are woefully inadequate in circumstances such as this.
Thank you for your consideration.
Dennis Canty