Camp settlement still pending

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Peninsula News Network

Clallam County commissioners are asking staff for some additional research before deciding what to do about a proposed settlement in that long-running dispute over a church youth camp west of Sequim.

The county and the King’s Way Foursquare Church have been at odds for more than 5-years now over the church’s plans to build what it calls “Camp Kingsway”, a facility where youth activities can be held throughout the summer months as part of the church’s programs.

But the plans have always drawn fire from neighbors in the rural area along Kitchen-Dick Road, and the county has struggled with how to approach the proposal. Three years ago, the county approved one version of the plans, only to have the church sue, claiming the regulations were infringing on their “ministry” and “freedom of religion”.

 

The county and the church reached an out-of-court settlement on that suit several months ago. But some of the neighbors claimed that agreement had been reached without adequate public input. A Jefferson County judge ordered the county to try again.

Last month, commissioners heard arguments in the dispute during a public hearing, and discussed the case during an executive session again Tuesday. County Administrator Jim Jones says the board reached no conclusions on the proposed settlement yet, and has asked staff to prepare a legal analysis of the history in the case, with a report expected back to commissioners in a couple of weeks.