05/25/2005: "New County Storage & Equipment Yard For PW ?"

To Become New Public Works Yard?

The Director of PW (Public Works) would not confirm or deny today that the BOOC was in the process of purchasing 28 acres of land just north of Friday Harbor as a new site for the PW yard. But Director Shannon did say that in two weeks he would be able to comment.

The site in question is near the new Carlson Commercial park development, and is some of the only land left on San Juan Island where commercial development can be placed. The land was designated as Rural General so that commercial development for the private sector would have a place to be located. But if it is now true that the BOCC is quietly purchasing the land for it's own use, the land will be removed from an area where the public can locate a business.

The County Assessor has assigned a value of $577,110.00 to the property, but there is no information available as to what the purchase price of the property may in fact be.

The property was looked at by the SJ School District some years ago, but for a number of reasons (including concerns about wetlands and opposition from neighbors) they declined to purchase it. It is not known how the neighborhood will respond to the possible sale of the land to the County, and it's possible use as a public works yard; but then, it also not known why the County would buy it in the first place, or where the money is to come from to purchase it.