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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLog208 - e L November 3, 2006 Stephen K. Casseaux, Jr. Jefferson County Hearing Examiner C/o Barbara Nightingale, Lead Planner Jefferson County Community Development Department 621 Sheridan Port Townsend, WA 98368 The Honorable Stephen K. Casseaux, Jr., I write in support of the Trendwest and Port Ludlow Associates (PLA) application to amend the Development Agreement and Shoreline Permit, identified in Case Number MLA06-00221. During my 26 years of Port Ludlow residency I have been intimately involved in the community planning and development process, I acted as the independent lead facilitator for the Port Ludlow Planning Forum, an intense, three-year collaboration process with the developer, Olympic Property Group, a Pope Resources Company (POPE), and the Port Ludlow community. Unilateral consensus on Port Ludlow's future development resulted in the Jefferson County adoption of the current Comprehensive Plan relative to a Master Planned Resort (MPR), the subsequent adoption of the MPR Zoning Ordinances and the execution of a Development Agreement between Jefferson County and POPE, Following adoption of the Master Planned Resort designation for Port Ludlow, Jefferson County sponsored a mediation process in 1999 to define and dictate the specifics of Port Ludlow's future development, Mediation representatives included community leaders, environmental interest groups (1000 Friends of Washington, Olympic Environmental Council, etc,) people opposing further development, competing commercial developers and POPE, whom I represented in this mediation process, Participants in the mediation process unanimously endorsed the outcome, which eventually resulted in the creation of the existing Jefferson County (MPR) Zoning Ordinances, the Development Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (guaranteeing sewer connections for all MPR lots) between Jefferson County and POPE, Unanimous support for the adoption of future development regulations was achievable because of the certainty provided against changes in developers or the county political climate. The mediation process, in part, concentrated on the economic importance of a successful resort operation to support community amenities and businesses. :2t)~ ~ r e e Chapter 17.50 of the MPR Zoning Ordinance outlines the scope of permitted development in the Resort Zone including a "Gross square feet of resort development of 498,300", It also identifies 275 hotel rooms, 59,000 square feet of restaurants, 22,000 square feet of conference space, 119,000 square feet of structured underground parking and a variety of other resort community amenities and support facilities, The Development Agreement provides certainty that the scope and process of future development will be administered in the manner agreed to in the MPR Zoning Ordinances, The Development Agreement provides for flexible development standards during initial property build out in order to respond to community demographics or changing markets and to allow for modifications that would not compromise public benefits or function or increase development costs. Timeshare ownership was not defined in the adopted Jefferson County MPR Zoning Ordinances and development regulations. However, a modification process was considered and specifically addressed by Jefferson County and POPE in both the Zoning Code and Development Agreement. The PLA application requests Jefferson County address and incorporate a definition of "Timeshare", and to locate a Timeshare on Tract E of Ludlow Cove IT, This application does not suggest any change to the intended result of the years of community, developer and county collaboration that has generally defined Port Ludlow's future, This application does not change the development cap on the MPR nor the guarantee of sewer connections to all MPR lot owners, Approval of this application will preserve the economic value vital to the Port Ludlow community businesses and amenities as well as to Jefferson County. Respectfully, ~.~. j) Michael Derrig 100 A Fairway Lane Port Ludlow, W A 98365 p .~ r;";-'r \1' ~. i:6~ ., . ...' 1).-- r