[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6064298,"mediaKeyId","3256285-f966460fdd840c02fce72703cf6986d7","parentId",3256285,"title","Sequim resident tells planning commission he wants better street connections, more independent planning and answers about past property loss","audioSeconds",424,"startMs",192000,"endMs",616000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3256285-f966460fdd840c02fce72703cf6986d7&start=192&end=616","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3256285-f966460fdd840c02fce72703cf6986d7/thumbnail_192000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6064298/Sequim/Clallam-County/Washington/Sequim-resident-tells-planning-commission-he-wants-better-street-connections-more-independent-planning-and-answers-about-past-property-loss","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6064298-81d0b98b3f6c41da8fffc2a800acdea0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771070128&Signature=lJFgv6295t7tCN0CE~7je0BzS2eG1uZa9McUorcAKHDR-P33CbIiVcIQ9aQ7q1982Wvdx9hH9yfDmHSew5cl-KbEoSm7vUnj6iEeMhwqiR76Vzlu3Rq7x~DfUosrsxRdd~4tgri94WM3qPFgwa3RukE-hK641Bexf7Ma78U3h0yNXgI3FrFMj6Iy~MQjSeWXFmrk0AosdeX9Kspkk518QxdwBY1pk1atqsVOGGLTTPynI5y6RinRdRyFwsEYfPALsShJxGM-CFSvE6EtRvIqjb16y4GZVf8L4w67w5M6Aanrl70AJBT9Kqz8C1n5EXu28jcFmFpOt5kxpTG6yD8NnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sequim City, WA","date","2025-05-09T15:50:23Z","article","Ronald Dale Faircloth, a Sequim resident of more than 50 years, used the March 18 public-comment period at the Planning Commission meeting to press commissioners on local street connectivity, the commission’s role vis-à-vis the City Council and several long-running personal property problems.

Faircloth told the commission he had tried for decades to assemble several lots near City Hall to build a dental clinic and described a 2008 purchase for $140,000 of a parcel he said he intended to use in that plan. He said the city provided monetary compensation for lots he owned in past transactions but that he remained dissatisfied with how “things have turned out.” He told the commission that “the police department knows who set my place on fire” and that a suspected arson suspect had left the area; he attributed part of his difficulties to how decisions and planning had been handled in the city.

On local street planning, Faircloth asked why Maple Street is not connected through Fourth, Fifth and Seventh and urged the commission to take a stronger leadership role in long-term planning: “The planning commission should be the outfit that is making the plans for what’s going to happen in the city,” he said. He also suggested the commission engage youth in civic education and planning exercises so that future generations help decide the town’s direction.

Planning staff responded briefly that the planning department is run by the city and that staff were available for follow-up questions. The meeting record shows commissioners thanked Faircloth for his comments but did not take formal action on the matters he raised during public comment.

Because his remarks contained allegations about criminal conduct and property disputes, the commission did not make factual findings during the meeting; the transcript attributes those claims directly to Faircloth.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Planning Commission Meeting - March 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Long-time Sequim resident Ronald Dale Faircloth used the March 18 Planning Commission public-comment period to press for better street connectivity, urge the commission to lead planning rather than follow council direction, and to raise unresolved disputes about past property losses and alleged arson.","taxTitle","Sequim, Clallam County, Washington","taxId",72051,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6064303,"Sequim planners present housing workshop as city prepares to plan for 1,850 new units under state allocation",495,1862000,2357000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3256285-f966460fdd840c02fce72703cf6986d7&start=1862&end=2357","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3256285-f966460fdd840c02fce72703cf6986d7/thumbnail_1862000.jpg","/articles/6064303/Sequim/Clallam-County/Washington/Sequim-planners-present-housing-workshop-as-city-prepares-to-plan-for-1850-new-units-under-state-allocation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6064303-d97615e9549e7d4a8e756f8f134d1beb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771070128&Signature=GC0GBt4KMe5uqvMeD3ToOB0WPxynmnJvMoIt-C0zYgnGE8g4C~yxzai5i3M9d1WJc43EFT2gIe3t0shkmBXbgOAbtgQQQClfyBUfJ5Zs3OWn0zqEBl5W3gBM5uW~~dnYCwzEk1ibhoPxebYCNhe5GJQfPQQR2lPEmN327J~iaD3gbI5ABI~P9Uxb9WKP6xj-uw0a4EuoxIMTcNlo8psl3wszV2TV6lDWYgpp4ut4fity3bPKySSviQ3RYvfjp48CZam-KCQYVmXsS8ppFU85hjHMO0qDY~Z5JqFQN~45P~ukETCiUqZCTHuEHTNt1Ak3OUAVseljnNGGYjEOW3s8gw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Consultants and city staff told the Sequim Planning Commission March 18 that the city must plan to accommodate 1,850 new housing units inside city limits over the 20-year planning period under the state-directed growth allocation and that those units must be distributed by income band under recently enacted Washington State requirements.

Carla Boughton, a planning consultant working with the city’s comprehensive-plan team, told commissioners the Department of Commerce and Clallam County had used state-prescribed methodology (method C for more-rural counties) to allocate growth; the allocation assigns 1,850 units to the city and 298 to the Sequim urban growth area. Boughton said the state requires jurisdictions to distribute future housing capacity by income bands and to evaluate development regulations so lower-cost housing types can be built where services and transit are available.

Boughton and city staff explained the technical steps already underway: a near-complete housing needs assessment, a land-capacity analysis that inventories vacant and underutilized parcels, and follow-up updates to goals, policies and development regulations. She said the city’s role under the Growth Management Act and the state guidance is to “remove regulatory barriers” and ensure densities and housing types can be built; she emphasized the city does not itself build the housing, which remains market-driven.

The commission spent the workshop reviewing three scenario approaches presented by the lead consultant (status quo, downtown emphasis, and a distributed ‘Washington Corridor/node’ scenario). Commissioners and residents in the room favored a dispersed corridor/node approach that balances downtown character and additional density along Washington Street and nearby nodes. Staff said the land-capacity analysis shows the city has theoretical capacity for the 1,850-unit allocation at current zoning but that the LCA will be refined as the commission decides what densities and housing types to allow.

The workshop also reviewed “middle housing” types — duplexes, triplexes, townhouses and other attached forms — and whether the city should allow more of them in R-48 residential areas. Commissioners generally supported allowing a range of attached housing types into areas identified with capacity, subject to design standards. Participants discussed whether the city should create a dedicated multifamily zoning district to manage scale and transitions; several commissioners said a multifamily district could avoid “spot zoning” and protect lower-scale neighborhood character elsewhere.

Commissioners and the consultant talked at length about building heights and what will “pencil out” for developers. Boughton and staff relayed feedback from developers and consultants in other Washington communities: interest rates and parking requirements strongly influence whether midrise projects are feasible. Participants discussed options including a tiered approach near city landmarks to preserve visual character (for example the downtown granary/silo area), incentives for landscaping and open space, and multifamily tax-exemption or other incentives used in larger jurisdictions.

Commissioners asked for more detailed economic analysis and for staff to provide final housing-needs data and land-capacity results when available; staff said the housing needs assessment should be released soon and Leland Consulting (subconsultant) is completing capacity work. Consultants and staff said development-regulation updates and critical-area ordinances will proceed in phases, with mandatory state-driven updates prioritized first and other zoning tools (multifamily district, design standards, incentives) to follow.

Commissioners said they will continue workshops and directed staff to return with refined options, maps and economic/policy analysis for a public-review process that will include Council hearings later in the year.","At a workshop March 18 the Sequim Planning Commission heard a consultant-led update on the comprehensive plan periodic review, including a state-directed allocation to plan for 1,850 new housing units in the city and 298 in the urban growth area and discussion of zoning scenarios, housing types and building heights.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6064308,"Sequim planning commission unanimously recommends City Council adopt FEMA-driven flood code updates",875,993000,1868000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3256285-f966460fdd840c02fce72703cf6986d7&start=993&end=1868","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3256285-f966460fdd840c02fce72703cf6986d7/thumbnail_993000.jpg","/articles/6064308/Sequim/Clallam-County/Washington/Sequim-planning-commission-unanimously-recommends-City-Council-adopt-FEMA-driven-flood-code-updates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6064308-a9906640a14d208b2352e73d88c7e5b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771070128&Signature=Nmmf1tbhCk71mVKNPoNg-G7mYNpAuubgD4ZDHkv~iCPA~89fLjzcDvZHnlL9JqmYEtmqYvaa2MBFk~4pg2rpps4~BGXZpxGyJfIlsTXyV3kx-PZBiCsqUSc1mfDATC0KoNJg-OLXUIw3kCbXtW2wLmNQbcPFCHh0Yi7wQYMYr91drXnd1DPi4yq3FZ89-ROh-AjQQ8ErgEVr2KTjCOJA24dXI0Sr9glyRana~ZGE5aLqguipf5q0a8E5U3WiR0G59tDnQkjCIdiY~cmDG4JLXJlqHFlrFAcJAUSrwAnTyCGVi7yBqShD9MS3r63L-1Jj~cbg4FqizKNw0Xz54xYd7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sequim Planning Commission voted unanimously March 18 to recommend that the City Council adopt amendments to Sequim Municipal Code Chapter 8.36, the city’s flood damage prevention rules, after a staff presentation explaining the changes are required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to keep the city eligible for the National Flood Insurance Program.

City planner Travis (DCD staff) told commissioners FEMA had sent recommendations that the city must adopt “to stay in good standing with the NFIP,” and that the draft updates include changes to base flood elevations, development standards and permitting requirements. He said the city had to act quickly to meet FEMA’s schedule and that the changes “are kind of the mandatory minimum.”

The commission’s recommendation came after a public hearing on the proposed amendments. Commissioners asked whether state agencies had reviewed the draft; Travis and staff said they had circulated the draft to the Washington State Department of Commerce and to Ecology, and that revisions distributed earlier that day reflected FEMA’s comments. Ethan Walker, identified in the meeting as the city’s associate planner, was credited for working directly with FEMA on the draft.

The staff presentation and commission discussion noted why the update matters to residents: remaining in the NFIP preserves residents’ access to federally backed flood insurance and can affect eligibility for other programs. Commissioners also asked technical questions about maps and V-zone definitions; staff said large-format flood maps and an online layer showing FEMA flood zones were available for review.

Commissioners discussed a few discretionary items that staff had not included because they were not mandatory — for example, special rules for replacement of historic farmhouses in floodways and rules for substantially damaged structures — and staff said existing nonconforming-structure and rebuilding provisions in the municipal code would continue to apply. The staff recommended not adding nonmandatory exceptions at this time.

After the presentation and questions the commission chair opened discussion and a motion was made to waive the second reading and recommend City Council adopt the FEMA-provided edits to SMC Chapter 8.36 as presented at the hearing. The commission voted in favor; staff thanked commissioners and said they would proceed with City Council materials.

Implementation details discussed at the meeting included the availability of a new FEMA flood map layer in the county multipurpose mapping tool and staff offers to provide large printed maps and additional explanatory material, including a clarification on V-zone definitions on request.

The commission closed the public hearing after no members of the public testified on the amendment and moved on to other agenda items.","The Sequim Planning Commission voted unanimously March 18 to recommend that the City Council adopt proposed amendments to Sequim Municipal Code Chapter 8.36 (Flood Damage Prevention) to remain in good standing with the National Flood Insurance Program; staff said the changes are largely FEMA-required and must be filed by April 23.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sequim resident tells planning commission he wants better street connections, more independent planning and answers about past property loss

Sequim planners present housing workshop as city prepares to plan for 1,850 new units under state allocation

Sequim planning commission unanimously recommends City Council adopt FEMA-driven flood code updates