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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2961-536 C:;ff\ ~ 00 '-jilt \V"",vk l/ t Jeanie Orr rLt:1 fc f From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Jeanie Orr Monday, June 15, 2009 7:39 AM Michelle McConnell AI Scalf; Stacie Hoskins; Jeanie Orr FW: DRAFT SMP RESPONSE -----Original Message----- From: Julie Jaman [mailto:jaman@olympus.net] Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 10:33 AM To: #Long-Range Planning Subject: DRAFT SMP RESPONSE Planning Commission Members June 12, 2009 RE: SMP I am aware of the myriad workshops and meetings that have focused on the SMP over the last few years. I have put in a few hours along with hundreds of other citizens. To steer us into an environmentally stable future required rigorous research of the current science on all aspects of shoreline functions. To steer us into politically acceptable compromise was arduous; most of the people who have been active in the revision process accepted the need to respect all the views brought forward. The draft SMP delivered to the Planning Commission provided protection for inhabitants of the shorelines ecosystems both human and animal. The Planning Commission's last minute revisions have lost site of what is entailed in preserving a viable shoreline environment for all of our futures. I live atop feeder bluffs. Almost 100 feet of that bluff slipped off this last year. "Please reinstate the science-based lS0-foot buffers for all of Jefferson County shorelines. These buffers are sized to reduce erosion and flooding of our homes, prevent chemicals from poisoning shellfish beds, keep our beaches clean enough to swim in, and keep our salmon streams cool." It is astonishing in a county with major fishing- dependent industry that the commission would even consider industrial fish farming. The media and science have been very informing of the irreparable disasters concomitant with such practices. The appearance of undo influence from the Chair of the Planning Commission, a shellfish farmer, is unfortunate. "Please remove the language allowing unregulated aquaculture on rural beaches and replace it with the previous language of compromise on near shore and intertidal aquaculture, including the ban on all net pens. The draft should not include unregulated aquaculture nor should it allow fish-farming pens along Jefferson County beaches." The current SMP draft continues to allow mining activities within Hood Canal and on conservancy shoreline. Thus we can expect future pit-to-pier projects. This needs to be changed to prohibit all mining activities, including conveyors, piers and ship/barge loading facilities outside of existing industrial areas. The last minute changes to the SMP will open up vast reaches of Jefferson County shorelines to unmanaged industrial development and net pens, without adequate safeguards. Please reinstate the environmental safeguards proposed in the citizen committee's draft. Our shorelines are where we live and work, and we don't want them turned into urbanized commercial wastelands. Sincerely, Julie Jaman 1 790 McMinn Rd. Port Townsend 2