02/03/2010: "Hearing On Expansion Of Fair Grounds"

A public hearing on a proposed "Ordinance Establishing a Fairgrounds Overlay District and Amending the San Juan County Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element and Official Maps" will be held by the County Council on Tuesday, (February 16, 2010). The council has a full day of hearings Tuesday, and while the agenda shows the fairgound ordinance beginning at 10:45 A.M., the Council has been known to not follow the listed schedule in the order presented.

If the fairgounds ordinance is approved as proposed, the changes will allow the fairgounds to expand the uses and the size of the property.

As previously reported in a story titled, "Big Changes Proposed For Fair" the Fair Board became a secondary part of a new organization under the SJC Parks department, and the proposed expansion of size and use will allow year around use of an RV camp ground, and different types of festivals as a way to raise money for, well, that is one of the questions: "For the fair, or to fund the park projects?"

When the fair board held public meetings in May of 2008 asking for citizen input they did not anticipate the fair would be adsorbed into the parks department, and they did not anticipate expansion outside of the historical role of the fair, stating "The goal is to protect its neighbors as community needs grow while maintaining its mission as a community asset for the annual Fair and Fairgrounds."

The official summary of the proposal is not helpful in understanding the intent or the potential impacts of the expansion, stating simply:

"The ordinance accomplishes four things.

First, it amends the Comprehensive Plan to reference the San Juan County Fairgrounds Overlay District and establish goals and policies for the overlay district.

Second, the ordinance amends the Comprehensive Plan Official Maps to identify the location of the overlay district, which is on the east side of Argyle Avenue and north of Dougherty Lane.

Third, the ordinance amends San Juan County Code (“SJCC”) section 18.30.080 to include the new overlay district. Finally, the ordinance adds specific overlay district regulations to SJCC Chapter 18.30; these regulations establish allowable uses along with parking and other general standards.

he public hearing will be held in the Council Hearing Room at 55 Second Street, Friday Harbor, Washington on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 beginning at 10:45 AM. The hearing may be continued from time to time and place to place as may be desired by the Council without additional written notice.

At the hearing, members of the public will be invited to speak and/or provide written statements regarding the proposed ordinance(s). After the public testimony portion of the hearing has ended, the County Council will deliberate and consider modifications to the ordinance(s) that are proposed by members of the public, the county employees and officials, or the Council members. The proposed ordinance(s) may then be adopted with or without modification.

All persons wishing to be heard on this matter are encouraged to attend. Written comments may be submitted in advance of the hearing by mail/email or at the hearing by delivery in person. Please mail 8 copies of all written comments to the Clerk of the San Juan County Council at 350 Court Street #1, Friday Harbor, WA or deliver to 55 Second Street Friday Harbor, WA 98250.

The ordinance(s) are filed at the office of the County Council, 55 Second Street, Friday Harbor, WA. The ordinance(s) may be inspected and copies obtained 24 hours a day at the County website at www.sanjuanco.com or at the Council offices during each business day between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

A copy of the proposed ordinance will be mailed without charge upon request.

All e-mail should be sent to the Clerk of the County Council, at ingridg@sanjuanco.com so that it may be included as part of the County file.

For more information please contact the Clerk of the County Council (360) 370-7470 or the Community Development and Planning Department at (360) 378-2354.