Urban Growth with Respect for All

By Sharon Peaslee

On August 24 I addressed the San Juan County Planning Commission imploring them to ensure the protection of properties directly impacted by the expansion of Friday Harbor. I am thoroughly convinced that the needs of the town and all its citizens can be met without degrading homes and properties along the boundary lines. But this will take a very strong commitment to careful and respectful planning, from all parties involved in this process.

Home Trust has already reached an agreement with the Buck family to build a high-density affordable housing complex on land that borders five properties on Sunday Drive. One of them is a lot that I am about to build my home on. I was stunned to discover just a few weeks ago, that the Home Trust plan involves building three 3-unit dwellings right along our property lines. We will lose our views and our privacy. Somehow they overlooked this in their planning. This land is currently zoned R-5, but if annexed by the town will be rezoned for multi-family housing.


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