GMA MEETING SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

By Chris Cook - Forks Forum editor

Clallam County has announced a slate of meetings regarding its plans for both enacting and appealing the Washington Growth Management Hearing Board’s plan for using urban land zoning overlays on rural lands in Clallam County. Land sections affected include both family- and business-owned sections. In some cases, land zoning is being downgraded from about 2.5 acres per dwelling to 5 acres per dwelling.

The zoning changes are drawing complaints from West End residents who say urban land use zoning is being overlaid on rural West End lands.

Robert Miller of Forks, who serves on the Clallam County Planning Commission as a West End representative, is inviting interested local residents to attend a meeting on the issue scheduled for Forks on Thursday by the planning commission.
Miller told the Forks Forum, “It’s their property and they are the ones who are paying taxes. They need to voice their opinion,
The announcement reads:
“The Clallam County Planning Commission (PC) has scheduled the following public hearings to obtain public input on a recommended response to the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board (WWGMHB) Final Order and Decision (FDO) [Futurewise & Dry Creek Coalition, vs. Clallam County, WWGMHB No. 07-2-0018c] that found portions of Clallam County’s Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations as non-compliant and/or invalid with the state Growth Management Act (GMA)?”

• Wednesday, Sept. 17 at the Clallam County Courthouse, at 6:30 p.m., in the Commissioners Meeting Room 160, 223 East 4th Street, Port Angeles, Wa (after hours entrance is from 4th street).
• Thursday, Sept. 18 in the Forks City Council Chambers, at 6:30 p.m., on Division Street in Forks.
To provide input, please attend or submit written comments at the upcoming Sept. 17 or 18 Planning Commission public hearings. Please send written comments to: Clallam County Department of Community Development
Clallam County Courthouse, 223 East Fourth Street, Suite 5 Port Angeles, Wa. 98362
Or by e-mail to GMAcompliance@co.clallam.wa.us
Following the close of the Forks hearing, the Planning Commission plans to finalize its recommendations for consideration and final action by the Board of Clallam County Commissioners (BOCC). 
The BOCC has scheduled public hearings as follows:
• Tuesday, Oct. 14
Clallam County Courthouse, 10:30 a.m., Commissioners Meeting Room 160, 223 East 4th Street, Port Angeles, WA.
• Wednesday, Oct. 15
Sekiu Community Center, 1 p.m., 42 Rice St. Sekiu.
Forks City Council Chambers, 6 p.m., Division Street, Forks.

On the Web: www.clallam.net (Go to  “2008 Growth Management Compliance Proceedings” link  under current issues).