PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners on Tuesday extended interim controls on disputed lands.
Nothing changes as a result of the ruling.
It simply continues the county’s attempt to come into compliance with the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board while disputing a portion of an April ruling.
A county representative will discus its interim controls with the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board during a meeting of the state board at 9 a.m. Monday at the Sequim Transit Center, 190 W. Cedar St.
No ruling is expected, said county Commissioner Mike Chapman of Port Angeles, who ran as an independent in the November election.
Five broad issues in the county’s comprehensive land-use plan were declared noncompliant with the Growth Management Act and invalid, the state board ruled.
The board ruled that some urban areas had zones that were too rural — and some rural areas had zones that were too urban.
Interim controls were implemented in October. They were set to expire later this month.
“We’re trying to comply, and yet we’re still appealing part of the decision that we disagree with,” Chapman said.
“All we did today is continue the interim zoning rules.”
The state board invalidated 20 of the county’s 46 Limited Areas of More Intensive Rural Development, know as LAMRIDs, which are pockets of higher density housing and commerce in areas otherwise given to forestry or farming.
Furthermore, the board ruled that the entire Carlsborg Urban Growth Area and Blyn Rural Center were noncompliant or invalid.
“The intent of these interim controls is kind of a placeholder that we feel allows us to allow some new development in land divisions, in some cases,” said Steve Gray, Clallam County planning manager.
Interim controls allow the county “to move forward, consistent with the board ruling, as we proceed with a more permanent compliance response,” Gray said.
The county’s response to the board’s original ruling was:
•âÇR2/RW2 zones: Temporary downzoning of 22,000 acres across the county — mostly clustered around Sequim.
Interim controls allow one home on every 4.8 acres of land, instead of one per 2.4 acres. This element of the board ruling will be appealed to Clallam County Superior Court, Chapman said.
•âÇCarlsborg Urban Growth Area: The county sought a one-year extension to prepare a financial plan for a sewer system that would serve urban development.
Interim controls limit development to single family homes and existing lots of record.
“The controls remain in place, but we’re appealing that part of the decision to Superior Court,” Chapman said.
•âÇSequim Urban Growth Area: Areas outside the Sequim city limit were judged too rural because they allowed one home per acre.
Interim controls changed zoning to two to five houses per acre.
•âÇBlyn Rural Center: Interim controls made the invalidated rural center a LAMIRD.
Commercial areas are now limited to areas north of U.S. Highway 101 and a site south of the highway southeast of Sequim Bay.
Interim controls for Blyn were set to expire Jan. 23.
•âÇLAMIRDs: 20 of 46 were found non-compliant. Some were changed to commercial forest or tourist commercial zones.
“Some of them we had to shrink down a little further,” Chapman said.
New chair elected
Chapman opened Tuesday’s meeting by nominating Mike Doherty, D-Port Angeles, as the commissioners’ chairman for 2009.
“I think it’s time to hand off the gavel to somebody else,” Chapman said.
He was chosen unanimously.
Steve Tharinger, D-Dungeness, retained the vice chairman spot.
The chairmanship generally rotates from year to year. It comes with no additional pay, but brings additional responsibilities.
Doherty represents District 3 — the West End of Clallam County.
He was elected Clallam County commissioner in 2000.
Executive session
Commissioners met in executive session Tuesday to discus pending litigation in the case of Linde v. Clallam.
Jason Linde of Linde Family Funeral Service in Sequim is suing the county over its decision to deny a crematory proposed in the Carlsborg Industrial Park.
Commissioners reconvened in open session to authorize the prosecuting attorney “to file a legal brief in defense of our decision to deny the crematorium,” Chapman said.
Homeless projects
County commissioners on Tuesday authorized distribution of $251,681 in state funds for homeless projects in Clallam County.
The 2060 and 2163/1359 funding recommendations are part of the county’s 10-year goal to eliminate homelessness in Clallam County.
A breakdown of the funds:
•âÇ$45,000 for Serenity House — Maloney Heights.
•âÇ$42,700 for Healthy Families — Safely Home.
•âÇ$38,500 for Serenity House — Housing Resource Centers First.
•âÇ$37,700 for West End Outreach — Outreach Prevention Project.
•âÇ$23,400 for VIMO — Health Care for Homeless.
•âÇ$20,581 for Healthy Families — Healthy Families Shelter.
•âÇ$20,000 for West End Outreach — Shelter to Stable Housing.
•âÇ$16,100 for Housing Authority — Mutual Self-Help Eklund Heights.
•âÇ$7,700 for Serenity House — Horne Building Expansion.
Other agreements
Commissioners also approved:
•âÇA $4,879.90 contract for K&H printers to print and mail ballots for Quillayute Valley School District’s special election in February.
•âÇExtended a contract with Family Planning for juvenile serves through April.
•âÇA call for bids for hot mix asphalt and CSS-1 liquid asphalt requirements.
•âÇConfirmed commissioner appointments to state and local boards and committees.
•âÇEstablished commissioner departmental interest areas.
•âÇApproved the Cummins Plat.
•âÇAuthorized distribution of $55,486 from the Chemical Dependency and Mental Health Program Fund.
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
