HomeMy WebLinkAbout060925 Public comments and revised Land Use Element Language_ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Hello Everyone,
This is a quick note to share the public comments I intend to make this evening and the revised Land Use paragraphs we have drafted to contribute to the discussion.
Public Comments:
The two paragraphs devoted to Agriculture in the draft Land Use Element do not adequately convey the importance of Port Townsend’s responsibility to prepare for the inevitable climate
challenges that future residents will face. They seem more focused on the County’s contribution to our food security than on describing the assets and capacities that exist within our
city to contribute to the food system infrastructure future residents may have to depend upon. While there is no question that a greater land base for agriculture exists outside the
City, it does the future residents of Port Townsend no favors to minimize the capacities that exist within the city to contribute to food security. The consequences of a climate that
is rapidly heating are catastrophic and already obvious for us all to see. This catastrophe is only getting started, and the disruptions the future residents, including our children,
will face, are not easily imagined. This is not pessimism. It is simply looking squarely at the current and future situation and being willing to admit what we all know to be true.
The Ag sector of the US is expected to significantly decline across almost the entire country. One exception is the PNW. Port Townsend is a peninsula on a peninsula, surrounded by
a Strait that makes it a unique micro climate in North America. We sit on an aquifer that is robust and allows our agricultural wells to be exempted from the stream water flows that
will limit the surface water rights of farms in the County. According to the Dept of Ecology, they will be the first to go dry in a prolonged drought. They can change to a groundwater
right, but they may or may not possess groundwater. Our aquifer, properly managed, can continue to deliver Ag water even through a very long multi year drought. And we have a series
of reservoirs that bring us water from the Quil; expensive water will be better than no water, in a time of scarcity. This is one example of why we need to envision Agricultural Land
Use goals and policies that are going to help Port Townsend maximize the assets we still possess, to grow our existing food system infrastructure into a robust and vibrant part of our
culture.
Land Use Element: Agriculture - Revised
While much of Port Townsend is becoming more urban, agriculture remains an important part of the City’s history, economy, landscape, community identity and well-being. Local farms and
gardens contribute to the region’s economy, heritage, and food security, and they are supported by strong community interest in sustainability, farmers markets, and access to locally
grown food. Preserving agricultural land and supporting food system infrastructure in Port Townsend is an essential component of a resilient and equitable future.
Within Port Townsend, land suitable for agriculture still exists, and the community recognizes the increasing importance of all scales of urban agriculture, including; small and medium
sized farms, community and personal gardens, edible landscaping, orchards, urban homesteads, plant nurseries, and food forests. These uses contribute to neighborhood vibrancy, educational
opportunities, food security and climate resiliency, as well as access to fresh, healthy food. Land use policies encourage the integration of agriculture into the urban fabric where
appropriate, protect adjacent rural lands from sprawl, and support efforts to conserve Port Townsend’s farmland. By recognizing and promoting the role of agriculture in both urban and
rural contexts, Port Townsend can help maintain a strong connection between people, land, and the food they depend on, and find a balance between increasing urbanization and food system
resilience.
If you want to contribute to the discussion via written comments, zoom, or in person, these links will help you make it happen.
* Join in person via computer or tablet at https://zoom.us/j/98187633367 <https://zoom.us/j/98187633367> enter the Webinar ID 98187633367
* Phone only (muted listen-only mode) United States: – 1(253)215-8782,,98187633367#
* Join live stream (listen only): https://cityofpt.us/citycouncil/page/agendasminutesvideos <https://cityofpt.us/citycouncil/page/agendasminutesvideos> .
* Submit public comment to be included in the meeting record to:https://publiccomment.fillout.com/cityofpt.
* If you are experiencing technical difficulties, please attempt all methods listed above before reporting any issues to: clerksupport@cityofpt.us <mailto:clerksupport@cityofpt.us>
* Meeting will be at 6pm, Council Chambers, 540 Water Street.
Thanks for reading,
Bly
fice.com/*