HomeMy WebLinkAbout3321 Related to Clarifying and Refining the Sims Gateway Development Plan and Amending the Port Townsend Comprehensive PlanORDINANCE NO. 3321
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON, RELATED
TO CLARIFYING AND REFINING THE SIMS GATEWAY DEVELOPMENT PLAN
AND AMENDING THE PORT TOWNSEND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
WHEREAS, City of Port Townsend Resolution No. 21-57 authorized an interlocal
agreement with Jefferson County Public Utilities District and the Port of Port Townsend to
address safety issue of electrical arcing between transmission powerlines and poplar trees on
Sims Way; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Port Townsend Municipal Code 20.04.030(A)(2), the
Comprehensive Plan may be amended outside of the annual amendment process to resolve an
emergency condition or situation that involves public health, safety or welfare and when
adherence to the annual amendment process would be detrimental to public health, safety or
welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City of Port Townsend Public Works Department submitted a Formal
Comprehensive Plan Amendment to enact changes suggested during the project's public
outreach; and
WHEREAS, as required by the Growth Management Act, RCW36.70A.130(1)(d), the
proposed amendments to the comprehensive plan and development regulations are consistent
with and implement the comprehensive plan. The amendments specifically advance the
Comprehensive Plan Goals and Policies identified in the Staff Report; and
WHEREAS, on June 27, 2023, the City State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) official
has reviewed the potential adverse impacts of all proposed amendments and issued a
Determination of Non Significance for each proposal; and
WHEREAS, public notice and opportunity to comment on these amendments was
provided through
• electronic notice to interested parties,
• Planning Commission Hearing on July 12, 2023
• a legal notice of SEPA determination published in the Port Townsend Leader on July 5,
2023
• a legal notice of public hearing before the City Council published in the Port Townsend
Leader on September 6 and September 13, 2023
« City Council Public Hearing on October 2, 2023
WHEREAS, on July 31, 2023, the City Department of Planning and Community
Development staff provided notice of intent to adopt the proposed development regulation
amendments to the State Department of Commerce (DOC) for review and comment prior to the
adoption of this ordinance per RCW 36.70A.106; and,
WHEREAS, the City Planning Commission, after timely notice, held a public hearing
and accepted public testimony on this matter on July 12, 2023, and recommended to the City
Council that the Comprehensive Plan be amended as proposed; and
WHEREAS, the City Council held an open record public hearing on October 2, 2023,
and has considered public comments and written submittals and the Planning Commission
recommendations;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE City Council of the City of Port Townsend ordains as
follows:
Section 1. Amendments.
A. The Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan Chapter 2: Introduction — Building Blocks for
the Comprehensive Plan — Port Townsend Gateway Development Plan is amended as set forth in Exhibit
A.
B. The Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan Chapter 6 "Transportation is amended by adding
Policy 3.15 as set forth in Exhibit B.
C. The Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan Chapter 4 Figure 4.2 is amended as set forth in
Exhibit C.
D. The Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan Chapter 9 Economic Development Policy 7.4 is
amended as set forth in Exhibit D.
E. The Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan Chapter 9 Economic Development Community
Retail strategy is amended as set forth in Exhibit E.
Section 2. Severability, If any sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance should be held
to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any other section, sentence,
clause or phrase or work of this ordinance.
Secti!n 3 1 t«an tta! tca I pp tl Jtte ►.t.m (:gg1mercd . The City Clerk shall transmit a copy
of the Ordinance to the State Department of Commerce (DOC) within ten (10) days of adoption
of this ordinance.
" ,gjio l4 . Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in Chapter 1.01.015 of the Port
Townsend Municipal Code, staff and the Code Reviser are authorized to update and incorporate
changes adopted in the Port Townsend Municipal Code. Staff and the Code Reviser are further
authorized to make non -substantive edits related to numbering, grammar, spelling, and
formatting consistent with this Ordinance.
Section 5. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force five days
following its publication in the manner provided by law.
ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend, Washington at a regular
meeting thereof, held this 16th of October, 2023.
Attest:
.................
Alyssa lw�i�g�ues
City Clerk
David jF'Zr
Mayor
Approved as to farm:
--ilc#idi �*.Yreenw od
City Attorney
Exhibit A
Comprehensive Plan Chapter 2: Introduction — Building Blocks for the Comprehensive Plan — Port
Townsend Gateway Development Plan
Adopted by the City Council in August of 1993, the Gateway Development Plan represented the
culmination of over three years of active citizen involvement. The Gateway Development Plan expands
upon an earlier "concept plan" adopted in May of 1988. It was calx l red in 2023 ['It jijjd�K included
sppcjfic focus in the Flats District and addressed pqwqjjn.c.s—a-e_t soq_fJlIc-Its-Y ttt_ic,c inti q
_pqp pqs�
to the Port's,ptpI qty .zinc t -_ I � � Y__ f the pAlh[i.q rJ1,Ig
dg!5jainabi it ofthis, area o
QLw_zw,, �1_11dt lie, this.portion ofthe Gateway. The Plan identifies specific
transportation improvements for capital development and establishes development guidelines for the Sims
Way/SR 20 corridor from the Port Townsend City limits to the Washington State Ferry Terminal. These
guidelines are "performance -oriented" rather than "prescriptive" and address issues regarding the look,
feel, and function of the Gateway Corridor. The Gateway Development Plan incorporates three primary
goals into a comprehensive transportation redevelopment strategy:
• Traffic Safety;
• Streetscape Improvements and Aesthetics; and
Economic Vitality.
Exhibit B
Comprehensive Plan Chapter 6
PcJic 3.15: F'nhanec (lie 1ats I)isti,ictacc(:)I-diligtq_thq2(� q3 y-Qq—VqlwPDn
A inendment to the Gatew a
Plan.
Exhibit C Figure 4-2: Port Townsend Subareas
N
Gateway Development PlanE4�E2
Urban Waterfront Plan 1990
.O%Sj?jyq�jUMjPIgn
rM Howard Street Corridor
Exhibit D
Comprehensive Plan Chapter 9
Policy 7.4: Create,n,iaiii.tai,,t,i,,_,ati(iiiiil)rove the Shns.Gigateways and other entrances into the Commercial
.. . ........
Historic District through the use of enhanced plantings/street trees and street furniture.
Exhibit E
Comprehensive Plan Chapter 9 Community Retail
The City's economic development strategy recognizes the fact that service industries, including retailing,
are the fastest growing sector of the U.S. economy. In Jefferson County, about 14% of all jobs are in
either the wholesale or retail trades. While these jobs may not provide the desired wages or "spin off'
effects that manufacturing jobs have, they nevertheless provide many meaningful employment
opportunities, fulfill community shopping needs, and boost local government revenues.
The Community Direction Statement (Chapter 3 of this Plan) and the City's economic development
strategy both recognize the importance of retail trades to our local economy and quality of life. The
community vision places special emphasis on building the strength and vitality of existing businesses and
minimizing retail sales leakage to neighboring jurisdictions.
One significant role local government can play in promoting community retail trades lies in providing and
maintaining public infrastructure and improvements in commercial districts throughout town. In this
regard, the City has placed special emphasis on implementation of the recommendations of the Port
Townsend Gateway Development Plan. This Plan is in reality a comprehensive public improvements plan
that could aid in improving the quality of the physical link between public and private spaces in the
commercial districts along the Sims Way/Water Street corridor from the Ferry Terminal to the City limits.
As cal" 0 3� thisincludes an 1tmencN,llwlent to the. Gatewa 1. e el��pl pp! Plgp �ir�l�tiwtg„ �t1�l1iiclll,.-Y
gigges,tions ,for .ir M a, ,ir lay c est► ql �carineetion to th boat y rrl,�tr�cl ?�l� rl�l�41g tlt , c��t y�l;��.wtca
accommodate forth,.►..economic dcvelQplt pLi ..
Implementation:
1. Carry out the capital improvements recommendations contained in the 2023t1mended Port
Townsend Gateway Development Plan.
2. In conjunction with the EDC, study local market conditions, identify areas for additional retail
opportunities, and work with business owners and entrepreneurs to create strategies that build on those
opportunities.
3. Help existing businesses find better ways to meet their customer's needs and expand to meet market
opportunities.