During the last town hall meeting of the year, Councilmen Richard Fralick and Gene Knapp, county administrator Pete Rose, and auditor Milene Henley discussed the levy lift on this year’s ballot (see the related story on this page) and gave updates on the CAO process and sign ordinance.
CAO: what’s next
The county council is proceeding with an update to the uplands portion of the Critical Areas Ordinance. After a planning commission public hearing later in the year, the council plans to make a decision in early 2010.
San Juan County’s shoreline regulations, however, will remain as they are, for the time being.
The council recently set aside possible changes to the shoreline portion of the county Critical Areas Ordinance and opted to deal with whatever revisions may take place as part of the pending update of the Shoreline Master Program. The county, as required by the state Growth Management Act, is obligated to complete an update its Shoreline Master Program by 2012.
The council is interested in the community’s questions and ideas about these updated regulations, and will be holding a series of field trips and public meetings. The Orcas meeting will be on Nov. 12; Lopez is scheduled for Nov. 16. The field trips start at 11:30 a.m. and are a chance to see wetlands, streams and marine shorelines and talk with experts on how the regulations will apply. The public meeting portion begins at 5:30 p.m. and will be held at the Orcas Senior Center and at Woodmen Hall on Lopez. Field trip meeting locations will be announced soon and posted on the county events calendar (http://sanjuanco.com/calendar.aspx).
A document that concisely explains the CAO proposed updates is close to being completed; watch the Islands’ Sounder for more details.
Sign ordinance
Senior planner Colin Maycock is working on creating a draft of a new sign ordinance, which will be the subject of public comment later in the year.
The Orcas Chamber of Commerce held an informational breakfast earlier in the month, where Orcas business owners gave Maycock suggestions for the new ordinance. Their ideas included allowing sandwich board signs for only a certain period of time and creating a free-standing map in Eastsound. Maycock said it is unconstitutional to allow sandwich board signs for non-profits, but not for businesses.
EWUA compliance
Paul Kamin, general manager of Eastsound Water Users Association, spoke about the summer-long hold on building permits for new construction in Eastsound due to lack of compliance with the state. He said the moratorium on granting hook-ups has been lifted, but final approval has yet to come from the Department of Health. Kamin said the delay in compliance is because of a past-due report from the firm that completed the water study; a final plan was submitted at the end of September.
“Building permits are being granted with a caveat – no occupancy until we get compliance,” Kamin said.
EWUA has scheduled an “Open Meeting” for members and the public who would like the opportunity to question or converse with the Board of Directors on Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Lundeen Room of the Orcas Senior Center.
