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Jeanie Orr
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From: Jeanie Orr
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 8:09 AM
To: Michelle McConnell
Cc: AI Scalf; Stacie Hoskins; Jeanie Orr
Subject: FW: Shorline Master Program
From: joaniebeldin@cablespeed.com [mailto :joaniebeldin@cablespeed.com]
Sent: Sunday, June 14, 20098:33 AM
To: #Long-Range Planning
Subject: Shorline Master Program
To the Jefferson County Planning Commission:
I have lived in Washington State for 40 years and have been a resident of Jefferson County for 10
years. What brought me to Washington from land-locked Illinois was Puget Sound. Puget Sound
is the jewel of this state and this county, but will only remain so if the health of its water quality
and habitat is adequately cared for and protected. Hodd Canal's "dead zone" illustrates what can
happen with adequate regulation
I appreciate the Planning Commission's work to review the SMP based on citizen comments.
However, I am very concerned about the elimination of important safeguards that would protect
shoreline habitat and water quality as new growth occurs
Please don't roll back 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 urban wastelands.
Please reinstate the science-based 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 our salmon streams cool.
I support the Planning Commission's revision to make it easy for homes to be rebuilt after a fire.
However, rolling back science-based buffers to address undersized lots is like throwing the baby
out with the bath. Instead of reducing environmental safeguards on 60 miles of shoreline, the
County needs to come up with a cheap and easy process that allows development on
nonconforming lots while protecting water quality and habitat.
I support the previous drafts, which require geoduck aquaculture to obtain a conditional permit.
There are too many unanswered questions about the modern way of farming geoduck, and the
science on the issue is due in within a few years. We can modify that later, if it proves there's no
harm to the near shore habitat
And I support the previous draft which banned the use of pens to raise fish on the shore. Canada
has experienced many problems with pen fish, and until such time that the science is clear, we
6/15/2009
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need to keep this practice off our shores
Important safeguards must be included to protect sensitive habitats from mining. Mining should
not be allowed in the Conservancy environment, and additional protections are needed.
Thank you for your consideration of my concerns - please adopt a plan that will ensure the health
of our valuable rivers and waters.
Sincerely,
Joan Beldin
6/15/2009