08/29/2007: "SJC Planning Commission Receives UGA Input"

The San Juan County Planning Commission has held a public meeting to receive input “to allow the Planning Department to identify issues, and then provide information” to at least four groups that will may be impacted decisions that are made on UGA (Urban Growth Areas) on San Juan Island. (background story)

Commission Chair Karin Agosta informed the few citizens that showed up for the meeting that the four groups are: the Town of Friday Harbor; service providers (e.g. water and sewer); citizens within the UGA, and those outside of the UGA.

CD&PD (Community Development & Planning Department) Director Ron Hendrickson said that all of the property owners within the proposed boundaries of the UGA had been sent notices of the meeting. Both he and Agosta reminded the public that the meeting was not a public hearing -that will come later- and was not about “affordable housing”, but only about UGA boundary lines.

Hendrickson explained goal of the meeting was to gain additional information that will help in updating UGA boundaries as required by State Law. Hendrickson had submitted a staff report and a Map - Friday Harbor UGA Proposed expansion that outlined the background and issues that were to be the starting point for the required ten year review.

The meeting room was only about three quarters full, and while there was, in spite of the statements that the meeting was not about affordable housing, some testimony was made about affordability, but the two major issues that came up were the inclusion of the Buck property into the proposed UGA boundaries, and a number of questions were asked of “What does this all mean to us, and how will we be affected by this?”

Sharon Peaslee told the Commission to “include us and others who will be directly impacted in the planning of this extension of our community. The character of Friday Harbor is extraordinary and well worth sustaining.” and We will all benefit if the community can come together around this expansion,” and hoped that “design standards are held consistently high”. She ended her comments by stating “I trust you will think very carefully about the impact of all the decisions you will make. With thorough, well-considered planning it will be possible to meet the expansion needs of Friday Harbor without sacrificing the quality-of-life many of us have already invested in so deeply.”

Steve Buck stressed to the Commission the importance of there being a balance of housing in the UGA. He gave as an example the possible unintended consequences that could result from building only low income housing without also including medium income housing, which, he said, could result in “the medium income buyers purchasing all of the low income housing.”

Connie Black stated a general concern expressed by many about the “lack of clarification of what it means to me of what is being proposed;” and added “my taxes go up, but I don’t seem to get anything new for it!”

Commissioner Mike Kaill said that “someone needs to explain what is being proposed, and what are the impacts;” and suggested that “readable summaries” be prepared.

Hendrickson responded that he may be able to create a web page that would allow for a “thread” of questions from the public to be answered by staff. He acknowledged there was a need for an information “clearing house” for the public.

Additional meetings will be held.