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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLog231 February 21,2005 [5) fE ~ lE H7 lE ~il lfIll fEB 23 2005 ~0 l ,---..--- 1~'F;:cR~a~~ CrV)r{TY 11"1" t:PT 0" ~ j "',u';',,:,,, '(:;, T i nl' t,!;,.,. ....;' \.i '..::":'-';", ,',}: ,-', ' 1 ...:'....- ,. ',- \.,.- '-----,,--'-,,""" .-... Mr. Dwayne Wilcox President Port Ludlow Village Council P.O. Box 65012 Port Ludlow W A 98365 Re: Amenities Discussion Dear Mr. Wilcox: Your letter to Mr. Al Scalf, together with discussions that have occurred at PL VC meetings indicate that at least some PL VC Directors believe that the Development Agreement between Pope Resources and Jefferson County (dated May 1, 2000) binds the Developer to build a specific list of amenities. This letter is to share my view on the subject. Development Agreements (DA) are authorized in the Growth Management Act under RCW 36.70B.170. The DA sets forth the development standards that shall apply to and govern and vest the development. The legislative intent indicates, "the legislature finds that the lack of certainty in the approval of development projects can result in a waste of public and private resources. . ." ".. . the project may proceed in accordance with existing policies and regulation.. .". The DA vested the developer to a set of regulations that are referenced in the Agreement including, 1) the MPR Code, 2) the Storm Water Ordinance, 3) the Critical Areas Ordinance, 4) the Land Use Procedures Ordinance, 5) the 1992 Subdivision Ordinance, and 6) the Shoreline Master Program. The County may not unilaterally change any of these listed regulations unless the developer bilaterally agrees to a proposed change. An example of a change in regulation is the implementation of the Uniform Development Code (UDC) in January 2001. By adoption, the UDC changes the development regulations and binds all landowners in Jefferson County to the new rules except developers vested to other regulation under a DA, such as Port Ludlow Associates. The UDC does not apply to land owned by PLA in Port Ludlow but it does apply to other owners in the MPR. The DA only established rules for development and protects the developer against unilateral changes in regulation. It does not define amenities. The only discussion of improvements (or amenities as you describe them) is found in the MPR Code. LOG ITEM # 02.3 I Page I of -< 70 BREAKER LANE PORT LUDLOW, WA 98365 (360)437-2101- FAX(360)437-2522 WWW.PORTLUDLOWASSOCIATES.COM " , "^'-'-_""_", "_0'.___.._..____......_ On the face of the MPR Code the document is referred to as the "Development Regulations for the Port Ludlow Master Planned Resort". Section 3.40 of the MPR Code identifies "Permitted and Conditional Uses" within the resort zone (MPR-RC/CF). Section 3.90 sets forth limitations in the resort zone together rules for permit processing and criteria for major and minor revisions to plans for the resort zone. The MPR Code describes allowable uses. It does not refer to required uses nor does it state that allowed uses are required. It appears that you and other PL VC Directors assume that a list of allowable uses is a list of required uses. Ifthat were the case, then Section 3.90 would not have provided the phrase". . . sets out a required environmental review process for reviewing major and minor revisions to the Resort Plan." Section 3.905 states that "Proposed revisions to the Resort Plan shall be submitted to the Department of Community Development and the DCD Director will determine whether the proposal constitutes a major or minor revision". Surely such a provision to process changes to the plan would not have been included if the list represented a set of required uses. Currently, PLA's application is being processed under the major revision process under Section 3.906. The elements of the major revision are found in the table of allowable uses in Section 3.402 In summary, the DA simply vests the Developer to development standards while the table of allowed uses in Section 3.402 identifies what elements may be included in the resort zone. Section 3.901 describes a "shall not exceed" scope of development in the zone. All ofPLA's proposed uses are found in the allowed use table. As a point of common sense, what jurisdiction can force a developer to maintain a business if the developer judges the business to be unfeasible? I hope that this letter facilitates a better understanding ofthe resort plan issues. If you wish to discuss the matter further please feel free to contact me. ~ Copy to: Mr. AI Scalf, JeffersonCountyDCD Ms, Faith Lumsden LOG ITEM #~3( Page ~ of ~