HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024 Comp Plan Cycle Prelim DocketJEFFERSON COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
621 Sheridan Street | Port Townsend, WA 98368
360-379-4450 | email: dcd@co.jefferson.wa.us
http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/260/Community-Development
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2024 Comprehensive Plan and UDC Text Amendment Preliminary Docket
TO: Planning Commission
FROM: Department of Community Development (DCD)
DATE: March 15, 2024
Under Chapter 18.45 of the Jefferson County Code (JCC), the Jefferson County Department of
Community Development (DCD) annually accepts applications for formal site-specific Comprehensive Plan
amendments (re-zones, overlays) and suggested text amendments to the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan
and Unified Development Code (UDC) for inclusion in an annual Comprehensive Plan amendment preliminary
docket. DCD accepts applications for each annual cycle’s docket until March 1st. In addition, DCD submits staff
suggested amendments for potential inclusion on the final docket.
Pursuant to JCC 18.45.050(2) Compilation of Preliminary Docket, by the end of the second full business week of
March of each year, the Administrator shall maintain for public review the annual list of suggested amendments
made by citizens, the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) or members of the BoCC, County Staff, County
Departments or other agencies.
Jefferson County Department of Community Development did not receive any site-specific amendment proposals
for the 2024 annual Comprehensive Plan (CP)/Unified Development Code (UDC) amendment cycle. However, as
described below, four suggested amendment proposals from Community Development and the Planning
Commission are proposed for consideration in the 2024 annual amendment cycle.
In April and May, 2024, Community Development will review the suggested amendments on the 2024 Preliminary
Docket, and provide recommendations regarding the content of the 2024 Final Docket. The analysis is based on
need, urgency, appropriateness, DCD staff capacity to substantively review and manage the suggested text
amendments, and anticipated DCD cost and budget for processing the suggested amendments. Community
Development’s analysis will be brought to the Planning Commission for public review and Planning Commission
recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners in, or about, April and May, 2024.
1. 2024 PORT HADLOCK/IRONDALE UGA CP & UDC AMENDMENTS, and Potential 2024 UGA
Amendments Continuing Through 2025 PERIODIC REVIEW, Including Middle Housing UDC
Amendments
Project Description: Amendments to the Port Hadlock Urban Growth Area development regulations (Ch. 18.18)
are proposed to address changing conditions resulting from the initiation of a sanitary sewer system, as well as
responding to legislative amendments to the state Growth Management Act (GMA). Future public outreach and
contracted work on middle housing amendments will result in specific proposed text amendments to CP & UDC.
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Unit Lot Subdivision standards applicable to Single -Family Attached and Townhouse Unit Lot Development and
Single-Family Detached and Cottage Housing will be proposed in 2024. These provisions would apply to the
division of land for single-family attached dwelling developments or may be used as an alternative to a
conventional subdivision or short subdivision for the development of single-family detached dwellings. The
proposal also addresses the application of automatic fire-extinguishing systems in Title 15.
2. 2024 UGA CP & UDC AMENDMENTS TO AMEND THE PORT TOWNSEND URBAN GROWTH AREA BY
INCORPORATING NEW FARM LAND INTO THE COUNTY UPON DEANNEXATION AND EXPANDING THE
URBAN GROWTH AREA TO INCLUDE THE CASWELL-BROWN VILLAGE AND ADJACENT PROPERTIES.
Project Description: Investigate the applicability and implementation of recent state legislative amendments to
GMA governing the process of land swaps between rural lands and urban growth areas. Amendment proposals
include Zoning Text Amendments, Comprehensive Plan Amendments, Zoning Map Amendments.
3. 2024 Annual Amendment Cycle, Planning Commission UDC Rural Housing Amendments Carried
Forward from 2023.
Project Description: Develop new rural housing code to add development regulations specific to congregate
housing and farmworker housing. Create a rural housing overlay applying alternative development standards for
sites that can accommodate multiple small homes or a congregate housing structure in a single-family
residential zone, and that can demonstrate lower impacts through meeting new performance standards.
4. 2024 UDC Annual Housekeeping Amendment Docket
Project Description: Annual Housekeeping Docket of Proposed UDC amendments to reconcile with state
legislative amendments, correct scrivener errors, or provide consistency updates not addressed by other
suggested amendments.
Further information on the applications, process or access to application materials are available by
contacting Community Development at 360-379-4450.