Clallam: Voters may decide `Critical Areas' rules in election
by ROGER HARNACK
Peninsula Daily News

(see CR editor's note below this story)

Clallam County, WA - 7/22/01 - Clallam County voters could have the opportunity to repeal the county's Critical Areas Ordinance when they head to the polls Nov. 6.

On Friday, county Elections Coordinator Patty Rosand confirmed that the repeal measure had enough certified signatures to qualify for the general election ballot.

The Critical Areas Ordinance creates streamside buffers and restricts development near waterways with the potential to support salmon.

In accordance with law, the county commissioners will have 30 days to decide whether to adopt the petition as law or place it on the ballot.

If the repeal is put on the Nov. 6 general election ballot, commissioners have the option of putting a critical areas ordinance on the ballot with it.

Voters will then have the opportunity to choose which they prefer.

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Note from CR Editor:  The statements in this article are inaccurate.  The Critical Areas "Ordinance" encompasses far more than "streamside buffers and restrict[ion of] development near waterways with the potential to support salmon".  Just regarding the "streamside buffers" - the ordinance includes dry-most-of-the-year swales - no fish could ever use this type of seasonal waterway, unless, as one citizen put it - the "fish could grow legs and walk".  One hundred feet of property are virtually taken away from the property owner on these types of buffers - they cannot use their property for anything at all - and yet this has absolutely nothing to do with salmon.  There are many other examples of this type of harm to the individual property owner.  See other stories on this site relating to the Critical Areas Code (Ordinance).  

In addition, the headline itself is inaccurate.  No "rules" will be decided at the ballot.  The initiative is to repeal the Critical Areas Code.  Further, the county commissioners do not have the option of putting a critical areas ordinance on the ballot.  The may write an initiative of their own to place on the ballot, however.  SF