County presentation: ‘UGA swap’ could move industrial acreage to Port Angeles; staff warn analysis and sequencing needed

County staff outlined a planning tool called an urban-growth-area swap that could transfer industrially zoned land into the Port Angeles urban growth area to assemble larger parcels for manufacturing and “prosperity-wage” jobs.

Bruce Emery, who spoke on behalf of Clallam County, described the swap concept as a one-for-one exchange of acreage and said it is allowed under the Growth Management Act when statutory criteria are met. Emery told the council the county currently holds roughly 250 acres of industrial land linked to a state prison parcel and timber ownership that has seen little private-sector development, and that a swap could convert the development potential to more buildable contiguous tracks near Port Angeles.

“Part of the point is to create larger, consolidated parcels that single companies can acquire and develop,” Emery said, adding that legal criteria require the swap not to increase overall development capacity and to demonstrate the transportation and public-facility funding to serve the revised UGA. He cited the need to coordinate with the Department of Commerce and to update countywide planning policies and interlocal annexation agreements.

Council members expressed support for the goal of attracting larger employers but raised concerns about sequencing, infrastructure funding and the risk that land added to the Western UGA could instead be developed as low-density residential if protections are not in place. Councilmember Lindsey asked whether the city and county had the right ordering of steps — whether first to map and reserve land in the comprehensive plan or first to secure infrastructure and interlocal agreements to prevent unwanted residential subdivision.

Emery and county staff said the next steps would be a land-capacity analysis, a transportation and capital-facilities evaluation, SEPA (environmental) review, and public engagement. The county emphasized that any swap would need to preserve a 1-for-1 industrial land basis (industrial for industrial) and that annexation and cost‑sharing agreements would have to be revisited and updated before urban services are extended.

Councilmembers also cautioned about community reaction from residents in the western UGA and the need to coordinate sequencing with the city’s comprehensive-plan work. Director-level staff in the city said the draft comprehensive-plan language includes a policy (LU 7.7) to work with the county to set aside West Side lands for industrial use and to make future UGA adjustments limited to 1-for-1 industrial swaps. Several council members requested the county return with more detailed analysis.

There was no formal vote on the swap; the council requested further study and scheduled follow-up conversations.