01/09/2012: "Tuesday Special Meeting For Special Bill"

The County Council will hold a public hearing Tuesday (01-10-12 at 9:00am) on the question of county participation in the Voluntary (Agricultural) Stewardship Program (VSP) -also known as part of the “Ruckelshaus Process bill (.pdf 81\k file).”

The bill includes a program designed to come up with a way to protect critical areas (as defined in the Critical Area Ordinance the County is currently struggling to pass) on agricultural lands while at the same time protecting agricultural lands.

Counties may decide whether they will participate in the program prior to January 22, 2012.

Many, but not all, of those involved in agricultural related actives support the bill, hoping they will be allowed use of their land that under the CAO would be restricted or forbidden.

The state considers the bill as “an alternative to protecting critical areas used for agricultural activities through critical area development regulations mandated by the GMA.”

If the County decides to participate in the program, they will have to:

• identify, in accordance with specified criteria, watersheds that will participate in the Program; and
• nominate, in accordance with specified criteria, watersheds for consideration by the Commission as state priority watersheds.

However the county cannot decide alone: “Prior to adopting an ordinance or resolution to participate in the Program, the county must confer with tribes and environmental and agricultural interests. The county also must, in accordance with specified public participation and notice provisions, notify property owners and other affected and interested individuals, tribes, agencies, businesses, school districts, and organizations.”

The VSP allows for agricultural planning in San Juan County to occur at the watershed scale. The VSP is an alternative way for those conducting agricultural activities in critical areas or their buffers to continue doing so without having to meet all of the standard Critical Areas Ordinance requirements in effect in the county.

This alternative provides for tools such as farm plans and implementing Best Management Practices to achieve the “No Net Loss” standard required by the GMA. The San Juan County Community Development & Planning Department has been working with the Agricultural Resources Committee to understand the costs and benefits of participation in the VSP, and to convey this information to the County Council.

If you have questions about the VSP or would like copies of the SEPA materials, please contact Janice Biletnikoff, AICP, San Juan County CD&P, PO Box 947, Friday Harbor, WA, 98250, (360) 370-7572, or janiceb@sanjuanco.com.

Written comments may be submitted in advance of the public hearing by mail or at the hearing by delivery in person. Please deliver 10 copies of all written comments to the Clerk of the San Juan County Council at 55 Second Street, Friday Harbor or mail to 355 Court Street#1, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.

Click HERE for the full Tuesday agenda.