HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING?
CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT A PERSON CAN DO TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY?
WANT TO INFLUENCE THE FUTURE OF LIFE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY?
Engage JC is an alliance of Community Wellness Project, Well Organized Jefferson County, and other community-based organizations committed to nurturing grassroots public engagement around the Jefferson County comprehensive planning process— with the intention of creating a more just and resilient future for all Jefferson County neighbors.
How can I get involved?
Two local community organizations Community Wellness Project and Black Lives Matter Jefferson County/Well Organized have been awarded a grant through the Department of Commerce to help bring more voices to the table around the 2025 periodic comprehensive plan updates for Jefferson County and the City of Port Townsend. This effort, which we’ve named ENGAGE JC, is an alliance of community-based organizations committed to nurturing grassroots public engagement, especially from vulnerable, marginalized, or overburdened communities.
Through ENGAGE JC, we intend to build, grow, and deepen relationality in the sphere of community change. We hope to create opportunities for folks who don’t or aren’t usually able to participate in public engagement efforts to share their hopes, dreams, and vision for a more just and resilient future for all Jefferson County neighbors!
Over the coming weeks and months, we will be collaborating with partner organizations and community planners to coordinate these opportunities for public engagement.
If you would like to schedule time with our team or have questions, concerns, or ideas to share, please contact us at engagejc@jccwp.org or fill out the form linked below. We want to hear from you!
“Comprehensive plans are the centerpiece of local planning efforts. These 20-year plans articulate a community vision through a series of goals, objectives, policies, and actions that guide the day-to-day decisions of elected officials and local government staff. The planning process includes robust community input through a variety of means (e.g., workshops, open houses, online engagement forums, surveys, etc.) as described in a required public participation plan. Many cities and counties are required to enact comprehensive plans, while others choose to do so voluntarily.”
A comprehensive plan is a policy document that provides a “road map” to the community's vision and helps guide how a jurisdiction will grow, look, and operate into the next 20 years. In addition to the community’s vision, the plan includes goals, policies, and objectives to guide thoughtful growth and development, infrastructure, public facilities, and services, such as
∙ How land is used for housing, economic activity, transportation systems, utilities, parks and community spaces;
∙How we budget for and finance these projects
∙ How policies are implemented through development regulations like zoning and permitting.
You can I see Jefferson County’s latest plan here.
What is the 2025 periodic update?
Jefferson County is required by the Growth Management Act (GMA) at RCW 36.70A.130 to "take legislative action to review and, if needed, revise its comprehensive land use plan and development regulations to ensure the plan and regulations comply with the requirements of this chapter." The deadline for completing this "2025 Periodic Update" is the end of 2025. For more information on the Periodic Update process required by GMA, see this Washington State Department of Commerce webpage.
See: 2025 Periodic Update
What is The “Community-based engagement process”?
“Recent updates to state law require Commerce to advance participation of vulnerable populations and overburdened communities in comprehensive planning processes. In response, Commerce has established this new grant program”
See: Community based organization public participation grants
From Inform to Ownership
From our perspective, the County and City operate at the Inform/Consult phases, where community input is limited. Engage JC is committed to moving the process toward Collaboration and ultimately Community Ownership, where residents have real decision-making power.
The comprehensive plan shapes Jefferson County’s future—housing, land use, climate, transportation, and more. By engaging deeply, we ensure that this blueprint reflects the voices, needs, and priorities of residents whose voices have been historically excluded.
Engage JC sees this as an important opportunity to be curious and engaged about how our county and our region will face the increasing complexities of climate change and related disruptions.
From Front & Centered:
“Have you ever wondered how cities and counties decide what can be built where, which type of projects should be prioritized, and how the jurisdiction will be livable for its residents? The Growth Management Act (GMA) is a state law that requires this work, and it’s really important!
Thirty-three years after it was codified, the GMA finally requires cities and counties to integrate climate change into comprehensive plans! The Front and Centered coalition and supporters have advocated for years to include climate and environmental justice in the GMA. Finally, in the 2023 legislative session, we saw progress on policy. Now, we look forward to 2024 where we anticipate funding frontline communities to advance their planning priorities.”
“Comprehensive plans are often a critical, deciding factor in how communities will endure rising heat, floods, fires, and other climate related impacts. However, the existing comprehensive planning process is not accessible or equitable for many people in frontline communities and does not address the disproportionate impacts from climate change and pollution.”
What is the “Climate” element?
“Washington State legislation passed and signed into law in 2023 (HB 1181) adds a climate goal to the Growth Management Act (GMA) and requires local comprehensive plans to have a climate element with resilience and greenhouse gas emissions mitigation sub-elements.”.
See: Front and centered Comprehensive plans and climate justice hb-1181 In-action
“Legislation passed and signed into law in 2023 (HB 1181) adds a climate goal to the Growth Management Act (GMA) and requires local comprehensive plans to have a climate element with resilience and greenhouse gas emissions mitigation sub-elements.
The resilience sub-element must include goals and policies to improve climate preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. This is mandatory for all counties and cities fully planning under the GMA and encouraged for others.
The greenhouse gas emissions sub-element must include goals and policies to reduce emissions and vehicle miles traveled. This sub-element is mandatory for the state’s 11 largest counties and the cities within those counties.
Climate elements must maximize economic, environmental, and social co-benefits and prioritize environmental justice in order to avoid worsening environmental health disparities”
See: Department of Commerce Serving Communities Climate Change