During the well-attended public hearing on Jan. 23, the Port Townsend Planning Commission aligned itself with city staff’s recommendation regarding proposed amendments to the comprehensive plan that would enable rezoning for development.   

A second public hearing on the amendment docket, this one hosted by the city council, is scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 3, with final adoption expected either that night or during the council meeting on Feb. 17.

The commission recommended the council delay the proposed partial rezoning of the Camas Prairie Golf Park for housing until the next amendment cycle, scheduled for early 2026, citing insufficient information and staff time to move forward with the rezone this year. 

Planning Commission Chair Rick Jahnke reminded in-person and online attendees that the city council will have the final say on the amendments, noting their recommendation was merely an advisory one.

“It is not on our current suggested table that we suggest the rezone,” Jahnke said. “Personally, I am very happy to have a slowdown. I suspect that if we go on and the [Friends of the Golf Park] are successful and the community is successful and we have a few more years of share of this space, there will be a very strong sense to guide the council in their future actions.”

Some public commenters called on the commissioners to urge the council to drop the idea of developing the park all together, given it has long been on the books as committed open space. 

Jahnke rejected the suggestion, explaining, “No council can tie the hands of a future council; that is just the way city government works. That request is simply not something that can be provided by anyone, including the council members.” 

Emma Bolin, the city’s planning director, reminded the commissioners and the audience that if the golf course rezoning is left off the final docket, the city will not pursue it further this year. She did note, however, that a Housing Site Plan for the golf park is included in this year’s budget, allowing staff to gather more information about the property before reconsidering the rezoning next year. 

The commissioners formally recommended the city council focus on updates required by Growth Management Act, and work on adopting an Active Transportation Plan and updating the city’s Critical Areas Ordinance and the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan. Commissioners also recommended a few optional amendments, such as clarifying goals and policies to better support the implementation of the comprehensive plan, housing, density, climate resilience, arts, parks and open spaces. 

The final docket will accompany the updated plan which is due to the state in September.