HomeMy WebLinkAboutCombined Packet of SummariesComments and Topics from Public Discussion
October 16, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting, Brinnon
Summarized by Joel Peterson, Associate Planner
v. 10-31-2024
October 16, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting
After general overview of Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update process and timeline, prompting
questions were suggested:
1. Who are our project stakeholders?
2. Why is participation important and how to increase the scope of community involvement?
3. How far in advance do you need details about outreach opportunities and dates?
Comment Summary
1. In the future, give more notice time before a community meeting. [The regular Planning
Commission meeting venue was changed and advertised to be in Brinnon about a week in
advance.]
2. Effective public engagement requires on informed community.
3. Brinnon’s history of “engagement” is that Brinnon’s residents have had positions that were
‘inconvenient’ to the County.
4. In-person comments should be weighted higher than web survey input, because web input can
be gerrymandered by flooding response by single individuals or groups.
5. Paper flyers at restaurants, community centers, Post Office, and kiosks are effective. Post
information to local Facebook pages.
6. People in Brinnon get meeting notices from the Brinnon Community Center Facebook page, and
also the Quilcene Community Center Facebook page.
7. Brinnon is relying on social media for information. The favored process is that an agency
“shares” to a Facebook page, which shows up better than individual posts to Facebook. This
method is more accessible for folks in town.
8. Broadband is not yet completed in Brinnon.
9. Use an E-mail list for information blasts—worked well for Fish and Wildlife habitat work in
community.
10. What about Hood Canal with low oxygen levels? Snakes, frogs, bees are conspicuously missing
from yards. That’s your evidence of impacts of a changing climate.
11. There’s insufficient parking for an increasing [projected] population.
12. Use of chimneys [wood burning] causing poor air quality is a concern.
13. How is this feedback used? Will we summarize and analyze the results?
14. How do we measure success of community outreach? Number of people? How do we make
policy? Success is when we come up with Goals and Policies that addresses an important
community issue.
15. We need feedback on our comments. Success is moving from aspirational goals and focus on
what is implemented. Nothing ever happens from Brinnon’s input.
16. There is an active group addressing climate change in relation to sea-level rise (Army Corps of
Engineers?), they’re moving Highway 101 and power poles out of inundation zones. Climate
change is being planned for.
Comments and Topics from Public Discussion
October 16, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting, Brinnon
Summarized by Joel Peterson, Associate Planner
v. 10-31-2024
17. We need to get policy in the Comprehensive Plan so that it shows that we’re ready to
implement—preparedness for grant funding.
18. Benefit of this meeting is to get priorities in Comprehensive Plan, to change or update the Plan
to remove old policy barriers to future needs.
19. Repetition is needed for people to begin seeing [County] communications and where they’re
posted.
20. Mailers would be effective.
21. Planning for long-range: things change, so need to have a way to modify and update the Plan.
Due to age structure of Jefferson County, 40% of the current population will reach end-of-life in
the 20-year planning timeframe. A projected 20-year population increase of 5,900 doesn’t
sound feasible. Circumstances change.
22. Brinnon lives off of grants. This is not self-sustainable. Can local Brinnon generate taxes to pay
for local needs?
23. State-mandated projects that are accompanied by grant funds can include Brinnon-specific
items in the agreements. Feedback will be skewed to meet State requirements anyway.
24. Ironically, the increased treatment thresholds requiring pressurized septic systems, put into
place septic systems that use more energy (electricity for pumps). More energy use negatively
impacts climate change.
25. Include in survey forms a write-in section for open dialogue without any other prompting
guidance.
26. Put on website the current State requirements that we have to meet—know where the laws
are.
27. Climate Survey should show priority (low or high) instead of whether people are concerned or
not. Leave a write-in space after each category to allow further responses.
28. South County trend: people getting together on a chunk of land and installing multiple sites for
RVs and the like as a way of sharing the land and accommodating more housing. The County
needs to accept creative ideas to provide housing for persons with low income.
29. Preserve housing stock by repairing and refurbishing houses.
30. County needs to have more flexibility to do things like outhouses that out-perform septic
systems.
31. Need to reduce cars, the source of greenhouse gasses, then provide bicycle lanes. Get creative.
Can we use the same creativity to do things cheaper?
32. Transportation in South County is limited. Highway 101 can be blocked by snowstorms and fires.
This can cause isolation. Should we widen some forest service roads for contingency access?
33. Brinnon needs to be understood and cared about. During the last Comprehensive Plan update
cycle (2018), goals and policies were incorporated but not implemented.
34. Want to seek ways ordinances/regulations can be modified in relation to shallow soils for septic
systems requiring pressurized systems, and modifications for well water permits.
35. Zoning requirements at density of RR5 (Rural Residential 1 dwelling per 5 acres) does not
accommodate generational properties (multiple households).
36. Need accommodation for Short Term Rentals (SRTs) for income.
37. The Housing Action Plan & 2005 E.D. Hovee Economic Report identifies there are many cost-
burdened households (spending more than 30% of income on housing expenses). House Bill
Comments and Topics from Public Discussion
October 16, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting, Brinnon
Summarized by Joel Peterson, Associate Planner
v. 10-31-2024
1570 established fees for housing—where are these funds? Point-in-Time Homeless Counts are
undercounting the actual number of homeless.
38. I’m interested in a Brinnon “Rural/Urban Growth Area”.
39. Brinnon Sub-Area Plan (BSAP) says the Master Planned Resort (MPR) must fit with the rural
character of the area. They want to install an ice rink!? That does not fit our rural character.
40. The time for discussion on the MPR was 20 years ago. The County needs to come forward with a
strong stance supporting the MPR and to stop mis-information.
41. The Comprehensive Plan update should incorporate a “town hall meeting” style of community
outreach instead of the formalities of a Planning Commission meeting.
42. Young people in the area need property & affordable transportation. We don’t have many
options. Traffic needs to be reduced on 101 by using rural transportation options. Residents
need transportation to get to work and we need to have a roof over our head.
43. There needs to be [County] accountability for how comments are handled. How do our
comments flow into the update process?
44. The Planning Commission (PC) works with Staff and consultants to transmit what the PC is
hearing from their constituents.
Comments and Topics from Public “Town Hall” Discussion
November 6, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting, Quilcene
DCD Presented an overview of the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan 2025 Periodic Update process
with a Power Point presentation.
Participants were prompted with the question “how to most effectively reach out to the Quilcene
community to get participation, particularly from underserved communities?”
Comment Summary as Recorded by Joel Peterson
1. On Community Development’s Long-Range Planning web page, do some attractive
project summary with information about how the legislation and policy is made.
2. Commentor purchased property for a Short-Term Rental (SRT) and ended up having to
purchase the neighboring property because of a settlement agreement between parties,
now there’s a moratorium on SRTs.
3. [Re: Climate Handout] Policy suggestion: climate change in relation to floodplain
flooding—need sewer to avoid septic flooding issues.
4. Need outreach other than the Leader notices. Our outreach isn’t reaching rural
communities.
5. Can’t we do a direct mailing to Jefferson County residents?
6. Two best outreach strategies: 1) send to people who already have permits regarding
that topic; 2) use reader boards, example in Coyle.
7. Use Community Facebook pages. However, they are transient posts—you have to re-
post. Subsequent comments push down content and gets lost.
8. Post Facebook notices as an “event” to make it stay viewable longer.
9. In Brinnon, the “Crier” publication can be used for outreach.
10. Get on the monthly calendar used by the Chamber of Commerce.
11. Internet bandwidth is a significant issue. People are sharing connections.
12. County’s email servers can reliably send out information.
13. Rely on email for communication.
14. Place information into PUD bill mailers.
15. County government has challenges getting information out. Need to be consistent in
outreach method to have predictability in where information can be found.
16. Use Community Board at Quilcene Community Center,
17. Consider using Google Groups, such as done on the Coyle.
18. Planning Commission Outreach Committee to be convened. Need County outreach
authority to publish on behalf of the County.
19. Make email lists for pushing out information.
20. County email lists are very difficult to use.
21. Have agendas widely distributed and agendas available.
22. Attend Board of County Commissioners meetings during public comment.
23. Flyers, Planning Commission website, something that will pique your interest.
24. Need a multi-level communication strategy.
25. Need to “push-out” information, not just passively post it on County Facebook.
26. Facebook page for the Planning Commission that shares to multiple pages.
Comments and Topics from Public “Town Hall” Discussion
November 6, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting, Quilcene
27. Need social media posts that summarize what happened at meetings—not long minutes
to read.
28. Planning activities should include WATER. In Quilcene, there are people without access
to potable water. Source comes from Lord’s Lake and goes to Port Townsend, passing
Quilcene (inequity). All available connections are tapped-out. People have to haul
water.
29. When discussing climate, consider future water supply.
30. Do Big and Little Quilcene Rivers get used by Quilcene for water supply?
31. Fire suppression is an important reason for adequate water supply.
32. People (agencies) all have their plans, but no one is talking about it together. There’s no
coordination.
33. Dosewallips and Duckabush organizations don’t talk to each other. Maintained as
different organizations talking about common issues.
34. Take “Climate Resiliency” terms and change it to “fire resiliency”, “water supply”, etc. so
it’s more direct and understandable.
35. Don’t promise anything to the public that we can’t follow through on.
MEMORANDUM
DATE: November 27, 2024
TO: Planning Commission
FROM: Jefferson County DCD
SUBJECT: Comprehensive Plan Update/New Climate Element – Results of Resilience Survey
Jefferson County Department of Community Development has been reaching out to obtain public input
on the new Climate Element/Resilience Sub-element to the Comprehensive Plan. Outreach activities
have included an online survey. As of November 26, 2024, 30 people have responded to the Climate
Resilience survey. This memo briefly summarizes the results by type of inquiry and lists some of the key
phrases the respondents put into the general comments section of the online survey.
Residence: There were 11 responses each from those in Brinnon and Port Townsend City Limits; two
each from Quilcene and Port Hadlock/Irondale; and one each from Chimacum, Marrowstone Island, Port
Ludlow, and other location in county.
Ethnicity: The majority of responses were from Caucasians (27), with one response each from an
African American, a Native American, and an Asian. There were 3 who preferred not to say what their
ethnicity is.
Level of Concern – Sea Level Rise: There were 12 who were Extremely Concerned, 8 who were
Moderately Concerned, 5 who were Slightly Concerned, and 5 who were Not at all Concerned.
Level of Concern – Geological Hazards: There were 12 who were Extremely Concerned, 11 who were
Moderately Concerned, 2 who were Slightly Concerned, and 5 who were Not at all Concerned.
Level of Concern – Drinking Water Resources: There were 12 who were Extremely Concerned, 6 who
were Moderately Concerned, 9 who were Slightly Concerned, and 3 who were Not at all Concerned.
Level of Concern – Physical and Mental Human Health: There were 10 who were Extremely Concerned,
8 who were Moderately Concerned, 7 who were Slightly Concerned, and 5 who were Not at all
Concerned.
Level of Concern – Natural Resources: There were 17 who were Extremely Concerned, 7 who were
Moderately Concerned, 1 who was Slightly Concerned, and 5 who were Not at all Concerned.
Level of Concern – Climate Migration: There were 18 who were Extremely Concerned, 5 who were
Moderately Concerned, 3 who were Slightly Concerned, and 4 who were Not at all Concerned.
Involvement: Of the 30 people responding to the survey, 28 identified ways they were interested in
being involved in the process of updating the Comprehensive Plan. The results of the online survey
indicated there were 20 people who wanted to attend public meetings, 22 who wanted to provide input
through surveys, 16 who said they wanted to provide written comments, and 20 who wanted to find
resources on the county website. Two people chose not to respond to this question.
General Comments: The following very briefly lists some of the key words or concepts from the online
survey.
Plan for an equitable future
Support both housing AND ecosystem and environmental health and resiliency
Adding alarmist aspect around climate change models should NOT be a focus in the county
Not everyone wants to be in cluster housing – consider limiting ADUs
Provide smaller buses or vans with more frequent runs
Promote fire safety and prepare for wildfires
No more resorts
Maintain rural environment/protect natural environment
Improve food access and resilience
Climate change in Washington is extreme (relative to other states)
Limit short-term rentals
Climate mitigation should be a focus
Do everything possible to stop increases in temperature
Preserve and maintain resource lands
Encourage healthy forest management practices, such as thinning and prescribed burning
No new development on shorelines or floodplains
Do more logging to eliminate fuel from our forests
Affordable housing is a climate issue (as more climate refugees move to area, driving-up prices)
Acknowledge sea level rise and plan for it in the Comp Plan
Housing documents that should be reviewed as part of the update were provided
Dedicate resources so county departments are staffed to coordinate climate efforts
Require development to incorporate climate smart practices
Keep functioning ecosystems intact
Find ways to use Grey water
Look for recycling options within the county