HomeMy WebLinkAboutExhibit 10 - 03C- Final SEPA Determination_Hall Baetz MLA22-00026JEFFERSON COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
621 Sheridan Street | Port Townsend, WA 98368
360-379-4450 | email: dcd@co.jefferson.wa.us
www.co.jefferson.wa.us/commdevelopment
FINAL MITIGATED DETERMINATION OF NON-SIGNIFICANCE
AND LEAD AGENCY STATUS
DATE: January 23, 2023
APPLICANT: Jefferson Land Trust
REPRESENTATIVE: Peninsula Trails Coalition
APPLICATION: MLA2022-00026 – SDP2022-00010
Application Proposal:
TYPE III SHORELINE VARIANCE PERMIT FOR A WATER ORIENTATED RECREATIONAL USE The Jefferson Land Trust (“the applicant”) proposes to construct the Hall Baetz Viewpoint along 31 Fairmount Road in Port Townsend, Washington. The project site is located on the southern side of
Discovery Bay. The site would serve as a public viewpoint of Discovery Bay and a natural/media interpretation area. In a larger context, the Hall Baetz Viewpoint may be designed to connect the existing Olympic Discovery Trail to a proposed trail expansion to the west. However, that trail expansion is not
included in this Type III Shoreline Variance application. Improvements of the Hall Baetz Viewpoint include one viewing/memorial structure, one interpretive sign, one road approach, one parking lot with a capacity of approximately ten vehicles, one vault restroom facility (future use), and a pedestrian circulation walkway. The proposal would create approximately 9,500 square feet of new impervious surface and 33,240 square feet of land disturbing activities.
All work would be conducted on a vacant, previously disturbed property. Environmentally sensitive areas located on or adjacent to the subject property include a Category I Estuarine Wetland, Category IV Slope Wetland, Discovery Bay, two Type “F” Streams, Frequently Flooded Area (AE Flood Zone), Geological Hazardous Areas (Seismic Hazard Area and Tsunami Hazard Area), Susceptible Critical Aquifer Recharge Area, Coastal Saltwater Intrusion Protection Zone, and a potential Archeological Resource Area. No
in-water work is proposed. The applicant has submitted an Environmental Checklist (attached), Engineering Geology Assessment, Engineered Stormwater Management Plan, Wetland Delineation Report, Mitigation Planting/Monitoring Plan, and Cultural Survey with the Type III Shoreline Variance Permit application.
This proposal is subject to review under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).
Legal Description and Location:
Parcels 902243033 & 902243020; Section 24 - Township 29N - Range 2W; S24 T29 R2W TAX 64 SUBJ/REST COVT #521386 & S24 T29 R2W TAX 52 SUBJ/REST COVT #521386; 31 Fairmount Rd, Port Townsend, WA 98368
NOTICE OF LEAD AGENCY: Jefferson County has determined that it is SEPA lead agency for the above-described proposal.
DETERMINATION OF MITIGATED NON-SIGNIFICANCE: Jefferson County has determined that
the above-described proposal would not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment as long as mitigation measures outlined below, in addition to applicable regulations within the Jefferson
Exhibit 10
2
County Code, are implemented. As such, an environmental impact statement is not required under RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c). This threshold determination under SEPA was made after review of a completed environmental checklist, written comments, other information on file, and an inspection of the site.
MITIGATION MEASURES: In addition to all applicable regulations within the Jefferson County Code, the county recommendation to the Hearing Examiner for this proposal will include the following
mitigation measure:
• A split rail fence placed waterward of the structure and parking area shall be installed with
signage that instructs visitors to stay behind the fence due to the sensitivity of the slope and
vegetation in the area.
COMMENTS: The notice of application was published in the local newspaper of record, the Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader, on August 10, 2022, posted on site, provided to interested agencies, and mailed to adjacent property owners with 300 feet of the property. The 30-day comment period ended on September 9, 2022. Two public comments, two agency comments, and one Tribal comment were received. (See attached comments.) With the exception of the Washington State Department of Ecology, expressed concerns will be addressed through permit conditions derived from applicable regulations within the Jefferson County Code. Therefore, recommended mitigation for this proposal is limited to that which is listed in the “Mitigation Measures” section above, which is in addition to standard permit conditions for this type of project, per Jefferson County Code.
APPEAL PERIOD: This final threshold MDNS is issued pursuant to WAC 197-11-340(2)(f). Jefferson County has considered comments on its preliminary Determination of Non-Significance (DNS). There is no additional comment period. Any appeal of this determination on the basis of noncompliance with the provisions of Chapter 43.21c RCW (State Environmental Policy Act) must be submitted in writing by 4:30 p.m., February 6, 2023 to the Jefferson County Department of Community Development, 621 Sheridan St, Port Townsend, WA 98368 for consideration by the Jefferson County Hearing Examiner. _____________________________________ _________________ Josh D. Peters, SEPA Responsible Official Date Attachments: SEPA Checklist submitted comments
1/23/2023