PPF’s Clallam County/GMA Critical Areas Protection Ordinance Resolved

The longest running case in Growth Management Hearings Board (GMHB) history was resolved today, 6-21-17, with the attached Order on Remand Finding Compliance. Clallam County adopted its first Growth Management Act (GMA) Critical Areas Protection Ordinance in 1999. Protect the Peninsula’s Future (PPF) and Washington Environmental Council (WEC) challenged to the GMBH (among other challenges) that the exemption in the Ordinance from stream and wetland protection for existing and ongoing agriculture did not meet the GMA requirement “to protect” these sensitive critical areas. In 2000, the Growth Board found the County’s 1999 agricultural critical areas exemption invalid and not in compliance with the GMA. Today the GMBH found the County had come into compliance with the GMA requirements with respect to existing ongoing agriculture. The case has taken more than 17 years to resolve this issue. In its decision the Growth Board acknowledged the tireless efforts of Dr. Eloise Kailin, who was the  Committee Chair for this project since the beginning.

Lynn Eccles │Administrative Assistant
Environmental and Land Use Hearings Office