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,; f~ Jefferson County Planning Commission
Submitted at the 6/17/09 public meeting
I am a property owner, voter, and general contractor in Jefferson County. Just as many property owners, I
fear the potential loss of utility or restriction of use on my land which I have worked long and hard to
purchase and care for. As contractors we have dealt with the frustrating array of regulations and reams of
paperwork required to build along the shoreline. And I, just like many in the county, have permitting horror
stories.
I find the intense regulation in the world that we live in altemately frustrating and frightening. For these
reasons, I was once a member of the Olympic Stewardship Foundation. I believed that a focus on education
and positive reinforcement would be more effective and make our world easier and more positive to deal
with. It is often the case that once a regulation is created, a way is found to circumvent that regulation. I was
hoping a general goal of good stewardship would avert this.
Over the past few years, I've been doing my research. I see it as a college course in science, government,
politics and people. The leadership I once respected and found to be reasonable, consistent and educated
has shown itself to be the opposite. We all know, at some level, that our county is special because it is lightly
populated and contains so much land that can't be developed. We know that livability and environmental
health has not been protected in areas more affected by human activity. That is, in fact, why many in the
county are here. Even so, many continue on the same path that made their former home unattractive or
unlivable. In a perfect world, everyone would take care of the land and many of us do, but I have also seen
many examples of the opposite.
I believe the Shoreline Maser Plan should be protective of the environment that makes our county so
beautiful, livable and relatively healthy. In general, I support the plan as it was drafted and presented late
last year. I see the 150 foot buffers as a compromise. It frustrates me to see the conflict amongst objectives
and regulations written into the plan. For example the idea that there should be no net loss of ecological
function, yet development is allowed that does just this. Mitigation at it's least is simply exploring the idea of
mitigation itself.
I would like to See consistency between our critical areas and shoreline documents.
I find the inclusion of marine fish farming to be an area of concern. I have made a pledge not to purchase
farmed fish and shrimp myself because of my concerns for the environment worldwide and find the inclusion
hard to understand when the waters of Hood Canal are known not to flush well, one of the requirements for
better practices in fish farming.
My objection to the huge master planned resort planned for Brinnon is well known. I continue to be amazed
that this development was approved, with it's golf course on the shores of Hood Canal, on shoreline
specifically designated by our state to be managed for it's natural function and with long-term health in mind,
in a county that has a track record of valuing it's natural environment. The plans include intense
development on the shores of Pleasant Harbor. I do not support reduced shoreline buffers for development
like this. I find the application to be inequitable and I suspect that there will be a loss of ecological function if
the condos and retails stores are built as planned and pictured.
The shoreline master plan should be simple enough for the average property owner can navigate it without
the help of an attorney. The process by which citizens do what they are allowed to do on their land should
be relatively inexpensive so that people of all walks of life may avail themselves of these opportunities.
I'd like to thank all those who have worked so long and hard on the draft shoreline master plan. Also
a special thank you to Michele for keeping us well informed and for the breadth of information she chose to
include.
,,)~pectfuIlY~'.
. Andr~ell
Brinnon