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07/12/2006: "Good News From Land Bank"

( Land Bank Director Lincoln Bormann & Board President Lisa Nash Lawrence)

The Director and President of San Juan County Land Bank had much to smile about when they presented their 2006 Amended Expenditure and Acquisition Plan II to the County Council on Tuesday (July 11,2006). The acquisition plan for 2006 includes a proposal to acquire 1,578 acres of land on Turtleback Mountain on Orcas Island. The land has been the target of preservation groups for years, and the now real possibility of the Land Bank obtaining the title to the land will mean it can be protected from full scale development. Map & Past story But not without some costs to the Land Bank.

The price tag for the property is $17 million, and to make the deal go forward the Land Bank will need to come up with $10 million, while the remainder will be contributed by the San Juan Preservation Trust and the Trust for Public Land.


Director Bormann told the Council members that the Land Bank will sell a bond to raise the money, and then make the bond payments out of proceeds from the taxes the Land Bank receives on the sale of property in San Juan County.

Bormann also told the Council that the property has the potential to generate some minor income from the forest stewardship program, and possible sale of small portions of the property that have less important "ecological and social" values. One of the possible "sales" could be a small portion of the land near a road on the northeast side of the property. Bormann said the Land Bank has been involved in talks with OPAL and Homes for Islanders about some limited development of affordable housing on the property, and pointed out that such development would generate some additional tax revenue to the county.

In response to questions of use, Bormann stated that at this time the plan is to open the land up to hikers and some trails for bike riders, and that there is a possibility that there may be access to some horse trails, but stressed that a final plan of use is still to be worked out. but that the Land Bank will "do everything possible to protect neighbors property and privacy rights.

Chairman Lichter joined Councilman Bob Myhr in expressing their full support for the purchase of the property.

The beginning fund balance for the Land Bank in 2005 was $4,566,138.00 and the ending fund balance was $4,926,880.00. The 2006 "proposed amended II" beginning fund balance is $4,926,880.00.