HomeMy WebLinkAbout083015 Jayne, Cindy Local 20/20 - Pre-scoping - II, III, IV, V, VI, VII From: Judv Surber
To: Amber Lona
Subject: FW: City of Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan Update
Date: Monday,August 31,2015 10:28:31 AM
Attachments: Comp Plan letter Aug 30 2015.docx
From: C Jayne [mailto:cindyj911@yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2015 9:18 PM
To: CityCouncil; Lance Bailey; Judy Surber; Nan Evans
Subject: City of Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan Update
Please see the attached letter from Local 20/20's Climate Change Preparation Group and T-Lab Group
regarding the City of Port Townsend's Comprehensive Plan update.
Thank you,
Cindy Jayne, on behalf of Local 20/20's Climate Change Preparation Group and T-Lab Group
PC-17
August 30, 2015
City of Port Townsend City Council
Lance Bailey, City of Port Townsend Planning Department
Judy Surber, City of Port Townsend Planning Department
Nan Evans, City of Port Townsend Planning Commission
RE: Updating the Comprehensive Plan
The Local 20/20 Climate Change Preparation Group and T-Lab Group appreciate the opportunity to offer input on the
Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) and we recognize the limited time, staffing and funds available for updating it.
At the August 10 Council/Planning Commission joint workshop, much of the discussion focused on whether some
issues might best be set aside for future updates. It was also noted that the city uses a standard comp plan checklist
from the state, the statutory purpose of the Comp Plan is to comply with the Growth Management Act, we should be
careful not to overwrite any existing goals and policies, and an "overly ambitious" update could be problematic.
We would urge the city to look at updating the Comp Plan from the perspective of 20 or even just 10 years from
now. 2015 will be remembered for a severe drought, forest fires raging across the state, salmon dying in large
numbers, and the highest monthly global temperature (July 2015) in 4,000 years (according to NOAA).
Will we look back and regret that we did not do more to address the most critical issue facing Port Townsend and the
planet? Or will we be glad that we at least took some steps to address these challenges?
Climate change is a textbook example of the interconnectedness of Comp Plan issues. Moreover, climate-related
issues are reflected in the priorities expressed by the public at the July 24 town meeting.
Although our community is expected to be impacted by climate change, Port Townsend and the Olympic Peninsula
will no doubt be viewed as a safe haven by "climate refugees" dealing with more severe challenges in other parts of
the country.
If we don't give sufficient consideration to climate change now, and how it can affect issues such as housing, the
economy and the environment, it would be as short-sighted as not using the most current data on population or
infrastructure capacity.
The consensus of our group is that delaying action on climate issues will significantly and unnecessarily limit the
range of effective solutions. As was noted in the August 101h meeting, having items in the Comp Plan can be helpful
in future grant applications. We urge you to use the Comp Plan as a fundamental, proactive tool enabling Port
Townsend to be remain a viable community, much like the way it was envisioned in the 1996 plan.
To help clarify our previous input regarding potential Comprehensive Plan changes, a summary of our key proposed
changes are at the end of this letter.
Thank you.
Cindy Jayne, on behalf of the Local 20/20 Climate Change Preparation Group and T-Lab Group
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PC-17
Summary of Key Local 20/20 Proposed Changes to the City of Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan:
1. Introduction (II): Add climate change to the "what questions the plan seeks to answer", and to the
"Predictions for the future".
2. Community Direction (III): Add climate change to the "We envision Port Townsend as" section, as well as our
ability to be self-sufficient and resilient in food supply.
3. Land Use Element (IV):
a. Add climate change to the major land use issues facing Port Townsend in the introduction.
b. Add a note on the population projections regarding current projections are potentially not accounting
for climate change refugees, and therefore there is a need for annual review
c. Add a policy regarding recognizing that the science related to climate change is rapidly developing,
and that frequent evaluation may be necessary to achieve water resource management goals,
including both water quantity and quality.
d. Air Quality/Greenhouse gas reduction section:
i. Add a statement regarding the need to monitor climate change impacts regularly, and to
review them to determine if changes are needed to other plans, regulations, and analyses.
ii. Consider if more detail is needed regarding sea level rise planning than the one existing line in
policy 8.7 (and if so, see example additions in the original L2020 document).
iii. Add a statement regarding researching city energy code changes for improved energy
efficiency and renewable energy opportunities. (There is a similar change in the Housing
Element below.)
iv. Make the tie between land use and greenhouse gases by including new policies regarding
encouraging increased density, reduction in off-street parking, and incentivizing electric car
charging.
v. Add a policy regarding increased tree planting requirements or incentives for public and
private projects, as a way to reduce greenhouse gases.
e. Add policies related to supporting local food production at a residential and commercial level.
4. Housing Element (V):
a. Add a policy regarding incentivizing smaller houses as a way to both increase energy efficiency and
improve housing supply.
b. Add a policy regarding encouraging energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation in
housing.
5. Transportation (VI):
a. Adopt a "Complete Streets" set of policies and ordinances.
b. Transportation Demand Management:
i. Modify the Policy 6.11 on Transportation Demand Management programs to include all
employees, residents (including those visiting commercial establishments) and tourists
ii. Review the Transportation Demand Management policies in 11.4 and 11.5 and determine if
changes are needed to spur implementation
c. Modify the Parking Management section 7 to include the need to reduce single occupant motor
vehicle trips as a policy to reduce greenhouse gases, to create more parking availability downtown,
and to promote alternative transportation modes (note that the last part is already in existing policy
7.14).
d. Update terminology from "non-motorized transportation" to "active transportation", and add in
references to bicycle to areas where pedestrian/walking is mentioned.
e. Update traffic calming section to reflect current street design/urban planning best practices.
f. Refer to National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) design standards.
6. Capital Facilities (VII):
a. Add a policy to update information on potential climate change impacts on infrastructure periodically,
and use that information to (1) validate the function and useful life of existing infrastructure and (2)
plan appropriately for new infrastructure. Pc-17
b. Add a policy to direct that the city develop and adopt strategic energy management, efficiency and
conservation programs in its own operations.
c. Add a goal related to reducing the frequency and severity of flooding via policies regarding
stormwater systems, culverts, etc.
d. Add a goal and policies related to devising a sea level rise strategy for city facilities.
PC-17