Planning behind proposed Brinnon mega-resort sound, state growth board rules
By Jeff Chew, Peninsula Daily News
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The final decision and order released earlier this week favor the county and the proposed project's developer, Statesman Corp., contrary to challenges from opposing residents organized as the Brinnon Group.
Thwarted is the group's legal argument that the county did not allow for an ample public comment period to address concerns about the $300 million project.
Statesman proposes the Pleasant Harbor Marina and Golf Resort as an 890-unit master-planned development on 252.6 acres of Black Point south of Brinnon, and farther south at adjoining Pleasant Harbor Marina.
Jefferson County commissioners in January rezoned the acreage from rural residential to master-planned resort with 30 conditions that the Canadian corporation must meet.
The Brinnon resort would encompass and improve the existing Pleasant Harbor Marina, which will remain at 284 slips. A "retail village" with 90 condominium units would be added around the marina.
An 18-hole golf course would be constructed on a site previously used as a private Thousand Trails campground.
Housing for resort employees also would be developed.
August hearing
Brinnon Group's Olympia attorney, Gerald Steele, presented its opposition arguments during a growth management board hearing Aug. 19 in Port Townsend.
Representing Statesman was Seattle attorney Sandy Mackie.
David Alvarez, deputy civil prosecuting attorney, represented the county.
The opposition group "failed to demonstrate that any of the challenged aspects of the [Brinnon master-planned development] create an inconsistency such that one feature of the Jefferson County plan is incompatible with any other feature of its plan or regulation," hearings board members James McNamara, William Roehl and Holly Gadbaw concluded.
The Brinnon Group has the option of appealing the hearings board's decision to Superior Court within 30 days of the decision's release on Monday.
Andrea Mitchell, a Brinnon Group member, said Tuesday that the group will meet with Steele before deciding whether to take further action.
"We consider the growth management appeal and any legal efforts as part of a multi-pronged approach to influencing the development of Pleasant Harbor Master Planned Resort," Mitchell said.
"Currently, these efforts include working with federal and state agencies charged with regulating parts of the development, oversight and education on mitigation negotiations, ongoing research on the legal aspects of the water issues, participation in county scoping meetings for upcoming environmental impact statements, tracking and researching the developer's promises to the community and the county, and so forth.
"There is plenty of work to do and plenty of opportunities for public input on development decisions."
'100 percent compliant'
County Community Development Department officials now working with Statesman through the State Environmental Policy Act process were happy with the decision.
"It looks like we're 100 percent compliant on the legislative action," said Al Scalf, director of community development.
"Specifically, we believe our commissioners require us to have extensive outreach," Scalf said, adding that he believed there had been adequate process also involving the county Planning Commission and Scalf's planning staff.
"We take the public's participation very seriously, and we're glad to be found compliant."
Ian McFall, spokesman for Statesman's Pleasant Harbor Marina and Golf Resort, said the company was pleased by the hearing decision, but was braced for a Brinnon Group appeal in Superior Court.
"They didn't uphold one of their objections," McFall said of Brinnon Group's arguments.
He said the legal process has cost the company at least $250,000, which could have been used to benefit the community.
"It's been a tedious and expensive, frustrating process," McFall said.
McFall has said the project would add 280 jobs and inject about $2.5 million into Jefferson County's tax coffers.
The estimated assessed value of the project upon completion would be $450 million, which could bring in $2.5 million in annual tax revenue for schools, roads and emergency services, McFall said.
The only issue now, he added, could be the company obtaining financing for the development in a weak economy.
"We're not concerned at the moment, but looking at it carefully."
Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board conclusions:
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Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: September 16. 2008 9:00PM