| County delays decision on watershed plan 11/8/04 Port Angeles, WA - Action on a controversial watershed management plan for the central and East End of the county won’t happen for several more weeks, and possibly not until February. County commissioners were buried with public comment this fall as they considered the proposed management plan for the Elwha and Dungeness River watersheds. Realtors, developers, well drillers and everyday citizens attacked the ‘WRIA 18” plan with fears that it would add another level of bureaucracy to development and led to tougher regulations that could impact the use of private water wells. A handful of people voiced support for the rules, but were definitely in the minority. Commissioners could have enacted the plan, or ordered revisions before the end of the year. But now, the board is saying it will take a more methodical approach without an immediate vote. For one thing, commissioners say they want to hear from the partner jurisdictions that also have to work with the plan, such as local cities. Then, county officials will work with user groups that had concerns before deciding what to do with WRIA, probably not until early in the new year. IN OTHER NEWS from Peninsula News Network... County approves second "no shoot" zone Clallam County commissioners have approved changes to the county’s rules for setting up “no shooting” zones, including a new zone proposed for the Sunland neighborhood north of Sequim. Sunland residents had begun pressing for the zone after reports last year of hunters pursuing game on private property in and around the development. The Sunland zone is the second “no shoot” area in the county. The first was approved by commissioners in the mid-90s, when Happy Valley residents also expressed fears about hunting and target shooting in their neighborhood. Commissioners also revised parts of the ordinance to clear up some confusing language included in the original rules. Developers win the latest Sequim shopping center suit A visiting judge has cleared the way for developers of the proposed Bell Farm Center to proceed with their project, throwing out an appeal filed by a local land owner. Stephen Clapp had filed the suit toward the end of the summer, claiming that the City of Sequim hadn’t adequately considered the environmental impacts of the proposed shopping center, and especially how impaired water quality in Bell Creek could effect his lavender farm farther downstream. But the city, and McConkey Developers, asked that the suit be dismissed, saying Clapp didn’t follow the state rules for appealing the project, limiting his eligibility to fight the development in court. Monday, visiting Jefferson County Judge Craddock Verser ruled in favor of the city and the developers, clearing the way for the project to proceed, barring further legal appeals. McConkey Developers have been working with Fred Meyer Corporation to build one of the company’s stores at the site just east of Sequim Avenue and north of the Bypass, although the company hasn’t yet committed to that location.
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