Kitsap County will be seeking input from the public on possible changes to county code related to timber harvesting.

According to a press release, sent out by the county on Dec. 26, if approved the changes would enable the county to assume sole regulatory authority from the Department of Natural Resources over Class IV – General forest practices.

The release stated that assumption of authority via permitting and enforcement will help to “ensure forest practices in the County adhere to the requirements of the Forest Practices Act, the State Environmental Policy Act, and implement the County Comprehensive Plan.”

The press release from the county stated that public input is being sought ahead of a presentation of the proposed code changes to the Planning Commission — scheduled tentatively for early February, 2019.

Kitsap County Commissioner Rob Gelder said he had read the proposed code changes, but had yet to be fully briefed on what the changes could mean for forest practices in the area.

“I’ve read the code changes, but don’t find it’s easy to determine what the hand-off from DNR to the county will change per se, other than better coordination and review over conversion activities,” Gelder said.

Pam Keeley, a founding member of the Kitsap Environmental Coalition — formed in August to combat Pope Resources’ intended application of pesticides to the company’s holdings in Hansville — said it was too early to say whether the group saw the code changes as a win or a setback for their cause.

“I am trying to figure out what it means,” Keeley said. “I feel careful about responding when I don’t know the details about it yet.”

“[The county] mentioned more streamlined permits and the whole process being more efficient, but what does that mean? I think it’s a little too early to make a statement about how we feel about it because we really don’t understand the details yet.”

—Nick Twietmeyer is a reporter with Kitsap News Group. Nick can be reached at ntwietmeyer@soundpublishing.com.