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Home My WebLink About2961-296 GMA ~ CXn1~ zq~J( JRECmVED@ JAN 2 ~ 2DCJ 29 January, 2009 JfHfRSON I:mmTY DeDi Jefferson County Planning Commission c/o Department of Community Development, Long Range Planning 621 Sheridan Street Port Townsend, Washington 98368 CC: Michelle McConnell Zoa Ann Lamp RE: Preliminary Draft Shoreline Master Program (PDSMP): Public Comment Dear Planning Commission, Thank you for soliciting comments from stakeholders and citizens regarding the proposed revisions to the Shoreline Master Program, or PDSMP. As you begin to form your recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners, I hope that you will find this input useful and will be willing to recommend certain specific modifications to the document. I am currently the president of the Beckett Point Fisherman's Club. which was originally founded in the 1940's by Port Townsend citizens interested in building fishing cottages at Beckett Point. The community, which includes Beckett Point itself, along with portions of adjacent shoreline and hillside, is currently comprised of156 leaseholders. Cabins are built on most of the lots, with several vacant lots interspersed. With the recent construction of a community septic system, remodeling and new construction is now possible at the Point. Given its unique geography and history, Beckett Point is obviously affected by any changes in the SMP. I have listed a number of general concerns our community has with the PDSMP that I hope will be addressed in your recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. The Beckett Point board has also reviewed the "Side-by-Side" Review handout from your 1fi/09 meeting, and has addressed these concerns in more detail in a companion Public Comment letter. Buffer Zone/Setbacks We would like to maintain and continue the current development pattern at Beckett Point This includes a historical setback line, where the row of existing cabins is set back a consistent distance from the beach. Since this historical line is within current and proposed SMP buffer zones, we have some concerns about new limitations proposed by the PDSMP (for a view of Beckett Point, see slide #23 of ESA Adolfson's presentation to you from December 3,2008). In the PDSMP. Beckett Point is classified as "Shoreline Residential" (formerly "Suburban Shoreline"). The preferred use in this zone is Single Family Residential, with a new 150' buffer from the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM), plus a 10' setback. Most of our existing lots and cabins will fall within the new buffer zone, thus rendering them" non- conforming." The PDSMP includes a mechanism for allowing construction on non- conforming lots if the lot was created before 1976, if construction is a minimum of 30' from OHWM, and if string-lines between neighboring houses are used to determine setbacks. Since it seems odd to designate a thin piece of developed land as "Shoreline Residential", with single family residential as a preferred use, then overlay a buffer zone that disallows single family residential construction, then add a mechanism to allow residential construction, we would prefer to simply have the buffer zone waived at Beckett Point If the buffer zone cannot be waived, then allowances must be made for new and remodeled cabins to be built to the consistent, historical setback line that is recorded on the plat in lieu of the 30' minimum from OHWM and in lieu of the string line between adjacent houses. It is also critical to establish that these were legal lots in existence well before 1976, even though they were officially platted in 2008. Please refer to the detailed Public Comment companion letter for specifics. Bulkheads Beckett Point depends on a continuous bulkhead (a type of "structural shore armoring" per PDSMP definitions) in order to protect individual existing cabins and the point as a whole. In cases where existing bulkheads need to be replaced, or where there are gaps in the existing system, we would like to maintain the option to construct new bulkheads. It appears that the PDSMP Article 7.7.C will allow existing bulkheads to be replaced. Article 7.7.D suggests that existing bulkheads on lots with no development should be removed. We assume that this would not be appropriate when removal would endanger adjacent cabins. Please refer to the detailed Public Comment companion letter for specifics. General In several locations within the PDSMP, there are provisions that if strictly interpreted, could disallow any future development at Beckett Point. Here is one example: Article 8, C.2. The following types of residential development shall be prohibited: i. Developments that can be reasonably expected to require structural shore armoring during the useful life of the structure or one hundred (100) years, whichever is greater. RECEIVED i A ~I C) ('I ?r'''fil ....OLe./ ' ~, .' 4' 'I P'.} "[ " I::! C L= ,,'_:::.~} lr.rrFRf'!)f.J r.1l1,U~ITY OPfll' I, [ I,,';,!, .lj I'ti LIJ It is critical to confirm that the intent of the document is not to disallow development within a well-established existing community of cabins, and that future interpretation by Jefferson County DCD will follow accordingly. Conclusion Thanks again for considering public comment. I realize that this is a major undertaking and hope that you will be able to take our concerns into account in generating a comprehensive revised Shoreline Management Plan. Sincerely, yd:- John Kennedy President, Beckett Point Fisherman's Club RECEIVED JA~~ 2 9 20u9 i;.~r~r'-'n?! rn!lti1TY nrn "'. i _ ,,,,..I.m ULIJ