CHIMACUM — The public will get its first chance to talk to the principals leading the planning process for the development and use of Short’s Family Farm on a tour of the 253-acre property in Chimacum that the Port of Port Townsend purchased last year for $1.4 million.
The Short’s Family Farm visit will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 17 at 1594 Center Road. Visitors are directed to bring footwear and clothing appropriate for wet, uneven and muddy ground. The site is not ADA-accessible.
Detailed information and a map will be posted later on the port’s website.
Among those attending will be the nine-person steering committee made of up farmers and representatives from Jefferson LandWorks Collaborative, the Jefferson Conservation District and the North Olympic Salmon Coalition; the University of Washington’s Department of Urban Design faculty and master’s students participating in the project; the Jefferson Land Trust; District 2 County Commissioner Heidi Eisenhower; and port staff.
Because a quorum of port commissioners may be present, an event notice will be posted, but no port business will be conducted.
The port acquired Short’s Family Farm with the goal of sustaining and enhancing the local agricultural economy.
Plan development
Developing a plan for the farm will take place at eight public meetings. All of them, except the final one, will be held at Kivley Center, 121 Oak Bay Road, Port Hadlock. All will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Here is the schedule:
• Feb. 21 — Farm Steering Committee Meeting, Kivley Center.
• March 6 — Farm Steering Committee Meeting, Kivley Center.
• April 17 — Community Visioning Meeting, Kivley Center.
• April 18 — Farm Steering Committee Meeting, Kivley Center.
• May 15 — Public Open House, Kivley Center.
• May 29 — Farm Steering Committee Meeting, Kivley Center.
• June 5 — Farm Steering Committee Meeting, Kivley Center.
• July 10 — Port Commission Public Workshop, Point Hudson Pavilion Building, 355 Hudson St., Port Townsend.
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.