Sequim: Commissioners back critical areas code

SEQUIM -- A local man says he'll turn to the courts after Clallam County commissioners Tuesday denied his appeal of a land-use decision by the Clallam County hearings examiner.

Businessman Jerry Levesque asked commissioners to rescind Hearings Examiner Ted Hunter's order barring occupancy of a recreational vehicle on River's End property he co-owns with his brother-in-law, Bob Forde of Sequim.

The cease and desist order claims an above-ground septic tank on the property near the Dungeness River violated the county critical areas ordinance.

The ordinance governs land use near critical areas such as streams, wetlands and slide areas.

Levesque said he's been allowing a Vietnam War veteran to live in the recreational vehicle and that the commissioners' decision doesn't address the equability of the law.

Forde, a vocal opponent of the critical areas ordinance, unsuccessfully argued the above-ground septic tank was installed legally and prevents sewage from entering the Dungeness watershed.

``There's no reason to force us to move off there,'' Forde said during the appeal. ``It's not hurting a thing.''

But while commissioners said they empathized with Levesque's position, they said their hands are tied from doing anything except determining if the hearings examiner correctly interpreted the critical areas code.