|
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2006
Contact: Larry Keeton, Director, Community Development
Office Phone: 360-337-5683
No. 06-103
County Imposes 90-Day Moratorium on
Non-Conforming Lots in Rural Zones
PORT
ORCHARD, WA—The
Kitsap Board of
County
Commissioners has imposed an emergency 90-day moratorium on the acceptance
of new applications for permits on non-conforming lots in rural zones for
buildings connected to onsite sewage systems designed to serve more than six
dwelling units. The intent of the ordinance is to address the use of
alternative wastewater treatment technologies in rural areas. A public
hearing will be scheduled before February 16, 2007,
regarding the moratorium.
The
issue came to light recently when the Woods View development in Manchester
was able to move forward using new technology for wastewater treatment that
enabled the builder to develop lots that previously could not be developed
based on existing sewage systems. Historically, the use of onsite septic
systems and soil types coupled with minimum lot size requirements provided a
constraint on urban level residential development in rural zones. However,
by using new wastewater treatment technology, such as Membrane Bioreactor
treatment systems, the lots recently became buildable. The moritorium does
not apply to the Woods View development, as the developer has submitted
completed applications, thus it is considered vested for development
purposes.
“We are
committed to reviewing this issue as quickly as possible to minimize the
affect on permitting for new construction,” said Commissioner Jan Angel,
Chair, District #2. “We are resolved to completing this review process
before our next construction season begins.”
The
intent of the moratorium is to give Community Development staff and the
board some breathing room to ensure an adequate plan for development
addresses this new technology. Growing technological advances in onsite
treatment systems for domestic wastewater have enabled areas of high
density, urban-dimension building lots to develop in rural areas in excess
of rural densities and inconsistent with the Kitsap County Comprehensive
Plan and the Growth Management Act.
According to Commissioner Chris Endresen, District #1, “No one likes
moratoriums, but in this case it is necessary. North end communities like
Hansville, Indianola and Jefferson Beach could be surprised with unexpected
dense development like the Manchester residents have been with the Woods
Road project. We need to give the citizens and development community time to
address the changes this technology brings.”
The
county’s next step will be to assemble a group of stakeholders in January to
help craft proposed policies that will address the issue for review by the
Planning Commission. Once they have made their recommendation, the policies
will be forwarded to the board for action.
“We
have taken this action to protect the long-term interests of our rural
areas,” said Commissioner Patty Lent, District #3. “We have intentionally
limited the scope of the moratorium to have the least impact on our
developers.”
|
