The State Route 20 corridor is the major transportation link between Port Townsend, the county seat, and the unincorporated portions of the county. As the gateway to Port Townsend, State Route 20 is well-traveled by local residents, commercial haulers, and visitors alike. The State Route 20 corridor is part of the national scenic highway system. It is locally referred to as "Rhododendron Drive" due to the abundance of the state flower found in the corridor.
Pressure for strip development facing this corridor may occur as some business activities find this area a desirable place to locate. This pattern of development is contrary to the stated goals and policies of the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan. Individual site plans or coordinated subarea planning shall provide for the continued development of the State Route 20 corridor for residential, commercial, and industrial uses while maintaining the visual aesthetics of the corridor.
Efforts have been made to accommodate commercial and industrial activities within the corridor. The Glen Cove industrial area with its frontage road (Otto Street), dedicated buffer, controlled access, and water utility provisions is the primary example. Subarea planning or individual site plans shall provide for the continued development of the State Route 20 corridor for residential, commercial, and industrial uses while maintaining the visual aesthetics of the corridor. The goal of these planning elements is to maintain the visual and functional integrity of the State Route 20 corridor by incorporating elements such as visual buffers, signage, limited access, frontage roads, service roads, utility corridors and utility access, to allow business expansion while protecting the utility, safety, and aesthetics of the highway corridor. Uses that do not depend on unobstructed visual access or direct frontage access to State Route 20 are most suited in this corridor.
(Ord. 11-23 § 8 (Att. A))
The State Route 20 highway visual corridor (HVC) is designated as follows:
That area described as Tax 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 21, and 22, and the Santa Barbara Addition and Blocks 1, 2, 4, 5, and 8 of Denny's Second Addition (excluding the portion east of the city of Port Townsend waterline easement and the Port Townsend paper mill utility corridor), all within Section 16, Township 30 North, Range 1 West, WM and that area lying within the southwest quarter of Section 16 south of the railroad right-of-way; the northwest quarter of Section 21; and those portions of the plats of the Eisenbeis Bayview Addition of the Phillips Bayview Additions to the City of Port Townsend located in the southeast quarter of Section 17, all within Township 30 North, Range 1 West, WM (depicted on the "Highway 20 Corridor Map").
(Ord. 11-23 § 8 (Att. A))
(1) 
Buffer Required for the State Route 20 Highway Visual Corridor (HVC).
(a) 
Buffer Dimensions. A thirty-foot-wide buffer is incorporated in the corridor, located adjoining the State Route 20 right-of-way toward the interior of the corridor area.
(b) 
Buffer Characteristics. New development and redevelopment within the State Route 20 highway visual corridor (HVC) shall meet requirements of JCC § 18.30.130(4)(d), Landscaping/screening. "Screen A" landscaping shall function as a visual barrier, with vegetative plantings, enhancements, and/or maintenance in order to screen development from the view of the traveling public. Visual screening may be accomplished through the enhancement and maintenance of the existing natural appearance of the highway corridor. Existing trees and vegetative plantings which meet or exceed these standards shall be considered to fulfill the buffer requirements.
(c) 
Buffer Maintenance. The buffer is to be maintained and, if necessary, supplemented with native plant material consisting of a mix of primarily evergreen trees and shrubs generally interspersed to form a continuous year-round screen that grows to at least eight feet in height within two growing seasons. No vegetation shall be removed from the buffer area until specific development plans and planting schedules are approved.
(d) 
Landscaping Plan. Compliance with this section shall be demonstrated with a landscaping plan meeting the requirements of JCC § 18.30.130(7).
(e) 
Vegetation within the highway right-of-way shall not be used to determine buffer density.
(2) 
Setback. The minimum setback in the State Route 20 highway visual corridor (HVC) for a commercial or industrial structure, including any accessory building or structure, shall be 50 feet from the State Route 20 right-of-way.
(3) 
Corridor Site Plan. Development of parcels in the State Route 20 highway visual corridor (HVC) shall depict on the site plan the location of the corridor buffer, elements of the landscaping plan, and provide a narrative that demonstrates consideration of the following elements, as applicable:
(a) 
Applicability of shared signage;
(b) 
Applicability of shared driveways, coordination of service road access, use of frontage roads, and limiting direct access to State Route 20; and
(c) 
Consideration of utility corridors and utility access.
(Ord. 11-23 § 8 (Att. A))