PORT TOWNSEND — Under a Thursday deadline to meet state Growth Management Act requirements, Jefferson County commissioners reluctantly approved rural standards for the Port Hadlock urban growth area this week.
The standards prohibit “interim” septic systems for new commercial businesses, but county officials said their action avoids the risk of not qualifying for grant dollars to finance a multimillion-dollar Hadlock sewer system for lack of compliance.
Protesting the 3-0 decision at a public hearing Monday was Port Hadlock veterinarian Joyce Murphy who wants to build a commercial development on Rhody Drive.
She told the commissioners Monday that by adopting standards that did not allow septic systems for new business developers before a sewer service was constructed, the county was delaying her ability to build for up to 20 years.
“You need to make it ‘commercial use’ now,” Murphy said. “Let us bring jobs to the county.”
County Administrator Philip Morley said, “We’re trying to finalize, and bring the UGA into compliance,” so as to qualify for state and federal grant money to build a sewer system that initially would cost an estimated $27.3 million and serve the commercial core.
Al Scalf, county director of Community Development said the state Highway 19 (Rhody Drive) boundaries could later be adjusted, allowing applicants such as Murphy to come forward again with their proposals.
“The most important thing is legal compliance with the urban growth area,” Scalf said.
A Port Townsend city official supported Scalf’s staff recommendation to meet state Growth Management Act standards that do not allow septic systems in high-intensity developments.
“The city of Port Townsend believes that any intense growth without appropriate infrastructure is not acceptable,” said Rick Sepler, Port Townsend director of Development Services.
The county commissioners have adopted and signed an ordinance establishing a Port Hadlock urban growth area, which allows developments that include typical urban public facilities and services, such as storm and sanitary sewage, domestic water systems, fire and police protection and public transit.
The commissioners’ action Monday rectified a 2005 decision that threw Jefferson County’s Tri-Area planning back eight years. The Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board that year concluded that the county’s designated 2004 Port Hadlock-Irondale urban growth boundaries were inadequate.
Construction is to begin in 2010, starting with pump stations and lines in the Tri-Area’s commercial core, including Rhody Drive. The second phase of the 20-year project would run north to Chimacum Creek and Irondale.
The county has until 2024 to complete work on the system, estimated to cost more than $50 million once fully built.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.