KCAA's Response to the Rural and Resource Lands Chapter Update at Public Hearing

On Tuesday, September 23, the Kitsap County Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed draft of the agriculture section of the Comprehensive Plan. The hearing drew a strong turnout—due in large part to language in the draft that raised significant concern among members of the county’s equine community. You can view the full recorded hearing here.

Board Member Scott Hall spoke on behalf of the KCAA in support of establishing an Agriculture Advisory Council—something the county urgently needs and has been long overdue in creating.

The next (and final) opportunity for in-person public input on the Comprehensive Plan will be on November 10 at the Commissioners’ Hearing Room in Port Orchard. Comments can also be submitted online anytime between now and then here.

This is a critical time for your voice to be heard in support of an effective Agriculture Advisory Council (AAC) for Kitsap County. Please take a moment to submit your comments online or plan to attend the November 10th public meeting — or both!

KCAA's Public Hearing comments, delivered by Scott Hall on September 23rd:

KCAA would like to focus on two issues of special significance to those involved in agricultural pursuits in Kitsap County.

1. Kitsap County still has not arrived at a workable way to provide any level of regulatory protection of any of the land in Kitsap County so that some land may be dedicated to long-term use as agricultural land. With the development pressure on county lands, this is of the utmost importance.

2. The county has promised an Ag Advisory Council for years. NOW is the time to hold the county's feet to the fire and make sure that an AAC is created with the purpose of (a) advising the county, and (b) that funding is allocated for a part-time staff person to coordinate its activities. The wording in the 60% document needs to reflect these priorities.

More specifically;

An effective Agriculture Advisory Council needs to be able to advise the County on matters of concern to the agricultural community. This will include code revisions and land use policies.

An effective Agriculture Advisory Council needs to have adequate support staffing from the county, and a meeting schedule that allows for timely examination and recommendations on the issues impacting agriculture.

An effective Agriculture Advisory Council needs to have representative membership from Ag community. In sum, there is a proposal in front of the Planning Commission on the creation of an AAC. The KCAA and our 460 members strongly support this proposal and urge the Planning Commission to recommend it to the County Commissioners.

Thank You.