IRONDALE — Hunters take note: There is a new spot in Jefferson County where the use of guns is now prohibited.
County commissioners Monday unanimously approved a no-shooting zone in a section of county land encompassing the Irondale community.
The new Chimacum Creek zone, just south of the already existing Kala Point zone, runs from Prospect Avenue on the north to Irondale Road on the south. It is bounded by state Highway 19 on the west and by Port Townsend Bay on the east.
Just before the commissioners’ decision on Monday night, a handful of Irondale residents spoke at a public hearing and embraced the creation of the zone in their community.
The support was not unexpected. Earlier this year, 71 Irondale residents signed a petition asking for the zone.
Ray Hunter, who serves on the Jefferson County No Shooting Area Review Committee, said he hoped the commissioners would vote yes based on the will of the people who signed the petition.
“The petition reflects what citizens of this community want,” Hunter said.
“I propose this be accepted for the citizens.”
Several Irondale residents identified the need for the zone based on the increased use of the beach in the Irondale area and near the mouth of Chimacum Creek.
One of the few opponents of the zone as proposed was Joe D’Amico, president of Security Service Northwest in Gardiner.
D’Amico said he understood the need for such a zone in areas where urban growth is taking place, but hoped the commissioners would make a change to allow hunting of waterfowl at the mouth of Chimacum Creek.
“I think that area should be left open for shooting waterfowl,” D’Amico said.
“That is what it has historically been used for.”
D’Amico also urged the commissioners not to make a decision based on what got the most signatures, but based on the law.
Commissioner David Sullivan, D-Cape George, said he was aware there were some people who shared D’Amico’s concerns but didn’t believe a hunting exception to be prudent in the proposed location.
“I do agree that in some areas shotguns would be a reasonable exception,” Sullivan said.
“But I don’t see that in this area.”
Commissioner John Austin, D-Port Ludlow, said he agreed with Sullivan.
“The mouth of the Chimacum Creek is only 200 yards from a residential area,” he said.
“That’s quite close.”
With that, the commissioners closed public comment and approved the new zone without exceptions.
Multiple proposals
The Jefferson County No Shooting Area Review Committee has proposed multiple no-shooting zones around Chimacum, Irondale and Port Hadlock’s population centers.
The county commissioners in July recommended that the advisory committee review creation of a no-shooting zone for the Tri-Area urban growth area.
The suggestion came from Sullivan, whose district includes the Tri-Area.
His commissioner colleagues, Austin and Phil Johnson, D-Port Townsend, endorsed the recommendation in a 3-0 vote.
Commissioners have identified population growth in the Tri-Area as a primary reason for the creation of such zones.
The Monday night meeting only addressed the one no-shooting zone created around Irondale.
A more contentious no-shooting zone in the Chimacum-Hadlock area is also being discussed.
It carries a northern boundary along Irondale Road and runs from west of state Highway 19 to Port Townsend Bay on the east.
Its southern boundary is a line from state Highway 19 to Oak Bay that is drawn just south of Red Barn RV Park, 8105 Beaver Valley Road.
“Individual landowners are very contentious over land in that southern boundary,” said committee member Henry Werch.
Contentious committee
A recent committee meeting, in which protests were heard from property owners Duke Shold and Dick Broders, led to committee member Harvey Windle walking out of the meeting in disagreement.
Windle has written a resignation letter to the county commissioners, said Karen Barrows, Department of Community Development planner who is facilitating the no-shooting zone review panel.
Further discussion on the Hadlock-Chimacum zone will resume once Wendell’s seat on the review committee is filled.
A public hearing on that zone is expected in January.
The current core of the review committee consists of Werch, Barrows, Ray Hunter, John Ebner, and Jefferson County Undersheriff Tony Hernandez.
Alan Rawson is the remaining member/stakeholder on the southern zone after Windle left the panel.
There are now nine no-shooting zones in the county: Inside the city limit of Port Townsend, Kala Point, Port Ludlow, Black Point south of Brinnon, the Brinnon area, Triton Cove near the Jefferson-Mason County line, Olympic Canal Tracts in Brinnon, South Toandos Peninsula and the newest Chimacum Creek location.
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
