Jefferson commissioner candidates clash over ‘down-zoning’ of commercial properties

Published 5:16 am Tuesday, September 9, 2008

PORT TOWNSEND — Candidates for Jefferson County commissioner clashed over the county’s “down-zoning” from commercial to residential properties during a forum on Monday.

Port Hadlock businesswoman Sandy Hershelman, running as independent in the Nov. 4 general election for District 1 commissioner, told about 60 attending Monday’s Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce luncheon that she believes down-zoning has hurt business in the past.

Hershelman is challenging incumbent Democratic Commissioner David Sullivan.

“Down-zoning has been done in the past,” Sullivan said, but not since he took a seat on the Board of Commissioners nearly four years ago.

Hershelman urged that the county commissioners to return property back to the original commercial zonings.

Sullivan agreed.

“To down-zone land or up-zone land is a complicated process that’s going to take a long time,” Sullivan said.