PORT TOWNSEND — Land acquisition negotiations for a new Jefferson Transit Center can resume now that Jefferson County commissioners have rejected the landowner’s commercial crossroads rezoning request.
The commissioners, in a split 2-1 vote Monday, declined owner Pamela Pepper’s request to rezone her 11-acre property at the northeast corner of Four Corners Road and state Highway 20.
Pepper had requested a rezoning from rural residential to commercial crossroads designation.
The new transit headquarters, proposed for bus fueling, washing and parking as well as administrative offices, would cover about 42,000 square feet.
The administrative office building would be made of steel and brick.
Jefferson Transit has outgrown its existing six-acre site on upper Sims Way in Port Townsend, and seeks between eight and 10 acres in a more centralized location to East Jefferson County.
Single vote for rezoning
County Commissioner Pat Rodgers, R-Brinnon, was the lone vote in favor of the rezoning, saying the land was “firmly appropriate as commercial” zoning.
“I think it’s ludicrous to not call it what it is,” Rodgers said.
Commissioner David Sullivan, D-Cape George, disagreed, saying he believed such a move was “not a good use of our resources.”
Joined in the decision by Commissioner Phil Johnson, D-Port Townsend, Sullivan said the urban growth area would have to be expanded to allow such a land use.