PORT TOWNSEND — To sort out controversial issues with Jefferson County’s proposed critical areas ordinance — namely the portion doubling wetland buffer zones in the county — a Planning Commission subcommittee will be formed to analyze and propose changes to the ordinance.

During the regular Planning Commission meeting tonight at 6:30 at the WSU Learning Center at Shold Business Park, 201 W. Patison in Port Hadlock, candidates for the critical areas subcommittee will be discussed, said Jim Hagan, Planning Commission chair.

The subcommittee will be composed of three planning commissioners and stakeholders affected by the proposed ordinance that was drafted May 17 by the Jefferson County Department of Community Development.

The stakeholders include the Farm Bureau, real estate agents, homebuilders, property rights advocates, environmentalists and a representative from the west end of the county.

No members named

The members of the committee are not expected to be named at the meeting, said Hagan.

“One of the purposes of the committee is to receive input from the public and make changes to the ordinance,” said Hagan.

“We’ve had difficulty engaging the public.”

But he said in the past month he’s received a notebook full of comments from residents who are opposed to the expansion of wetland buffers — properties designed to protect wetlands from manmade activities.

Only three are not only in favor of buffers doubling the current lengths — from the current 25 feet to 150 feet to the proposed 50 feet to 300 feet — but request even larger ones.

The committee will closely examine the proposed ordinance that came about from a settlement agreement with Washington Environmental Council that accused Jefferson County of not using best available science to regulate its wetland buffers.

The committee will look at places in the ordinance that that can be changed that are not required by the settlement agreement, said Hagan.

Also, he said, it will see if there is science available that would support smaller but equally effective buffers.