HomeMy WebLinkAbout7b-24Feb21_Community Outreach Summary1
JEFFERSON COUNTY
PLANNING COMMISSION
TO: Honorable Chair and Members of the Planning Commission
FROM: Brent A. Butler, AICP, Chief Strategy Officer
DATE: February 21, 2024
SUBJECT: Planning Agency Community Outreach Summary Related to:
(1)Water Utility Coordinating Committee,
(2)Short Term Rentals, and
(3)Port Hadlock Urban Growth Area Zoning
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
The Department of Community Development (“DCD”) continues to advance housing development and
preservation through several parallel efforts, including the creation of (1) the C-PACER program, (2)
preapproved plans, (3) revisions to the Port Hadlock Urban Growth Area zoning regulations, and (4)
reviewing short term rental provisions to lessen their impact on housing availability. As recently
documented in Homelessness is a Housing Problem by Gregg Colburn and Clayton Aldern, this new book
separates fact from fiction and argues that the Planning Commission’s efforts to incentivize housing
development and construction may be the greatest contributor to reducing homelessness. Given DCD’s
response to a recent survey distributed by the Runstad Center illustrates that few of the state-sanctioned
incentives are available within Jefferson County (see Attachment 1 – Survey Result), these efforts may be
essential to what some consider an existential crisis, housing availability.
Two of the attached press releases are related to this ongoing crisis, which according to the Runstad
Center continues unabated (see Attachment 2 – Press Releases). The third addresses a critical housing
need, water available (see Attachment 2 – Press Releases) In the third quarter of 2023, which is the last
published housing data, Jefferson County ranks as the second most unaffordable county for both first time
and other homebuyers. Furthermore, based on the attached 3rd qtr. 2023 market snapshot,
https://wcrer.be.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/60/2023/11/Housing-Market-Snapshot-Q3-2023.pdf,
Jefferson County’s median price of $650,000 is the quarter’s forth highest based on data documenting San
Juan at $970,000, King at $908,100, and Island at $657,800. This contrasts the last full year, 2022, which
ranks Jefferson County county’s median price of $606,800 as the fifth highest median sales price after
San Juan Island at $958,300; King at $914,300; Snohomish at $760,600; and Whatcom at $608,300.You
can always access this data online at: https://wcrer.be.uw.edu/archived-reports/
RECOMMENDATION:
Please review the attached press releases, and share with your network to ensure the greatest possible
participation.
Agenda Item 7B-1
2
ATTACHMENT 1 - SURVEY RESULTS
Agenda Item 7B-2
3
Agenda Item 7B-3
4
Agenda Item 7B-4
5
Agenda Item 7B-5
6
Agenda Item 7B-6
7
Agenda Item 7B-7
8
Agenda Item 7B-8
9
Agenda Item 7B-9
10
Agenda Item 7B-10
11
Agenda Item 7B-11
12
Agenda Item 7B-12
13
ATTACHMENT 2 – PRESS RELEASES
Agenda Item 7B-13