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05/03/2005: "BOCC Begins Legal Process On Essential Public Facilities"

After losing legal appeals, and in the face of possible lawsuits on the placing of Essential Public Facilities, the BOCC

After losing legal appeals, and in the face of possible lawsuits on the placing of Essential Public Facilities, the BOCC is planning to explore changes to the Comprehensive Plan, and the UDC (the land use regulations that enforce it) that will allow for public facilities that are shown to be essential for the county. Such changes could result in the placing and development of County buildings and storage yards in areas where they are not now allowed by the Comprehensive Plan. Examples of potential results of such changes are the expansion of Solid Waste facilities (once called "dumps"), and possible commercial and/or industrial public uses on the shorelines and in residential and farmland areas that under the current Comprehensive Plan would be prohibited.

Under direction from the BOCC, the San Juan County CDPD ( Community Development and Planning Department) has asked for "your participation in the review and identification of elements of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and associated development regulations, including the Critical Areas Ordinance, that must be updated by December, 2005 as required by the Growth Management Act, RCW 36.70A"

To guide the CDPD and the BOCC in the process, the BOCC is forming a Essential Public Facilities Citizen Advisory Committee, and is asking those who have an interest in serving on the committee to send a letter to the BOCC that states the applicants "experience with essential public facilities, one's availability to meet, and one's commitment to work towards consensus on the essential public facilities items for the benefit of the community" All interested individuals and stakeholders who wish to have representation on this committee are encouraged to apply by letter to the Board of County Commissioners at 350 Court St., #1, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. The deadline is May 24, 2005.

For those members of the public who have an interest in the process, the Planning Department has draft checklists that list their recommended updates to the Comprehensive Plan and regulations "that can be expected during the course of this year". After public comments are received, the Planning Department will review the comments to determine if any of the draft checklists need to be revised. Copies of the draft checklists will be made available for your review and comment upon request. The deadline for submitting comments on the draft checklists is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 20, 2005. Comments may be submitted to San Juan County Community Development and Planning Department, ATTN: Francine Shaw, P.O. Box 947, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.