2025 Comprehensive Plan Update

San Juan County is currently updating its Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) with support from a consultant team and a grant from the Department of Commerce. All counties, cities, and towns in Washington state planning under the Growth Management Act (GMA) are required to periodically review and update comprehensive plans and development regulations to ensure consistency with state laws and the expected population and employment projections for the next 20 years. The County's goal is to adopt the Comp Plan update by June 30, 2025.

The 2025 Comp Plan update process includes:

Implementing a public participation plan
Reviewing and incorporating GMA changes into the Comp Plan (see FAQs)
Updating data and conducting analyses
Analysis under the State Environmental Policy Act
Advisory committee meetings
Planning Commission work sessions and hearings
County Council meetings and hearings

San Juan County is developing a new Climate Element as part of its broader climate resilience planning efforts. The Climate Element is being developed separately and in coordination with the Comp Plan update. For more information, please visit the project webpage HERE.

More information, including public participation opportunities, drafts, and hearing dates, will be added to this page as they become available.

The 2025 Comp Plan update process includes:

Implementing a public participation plan
Reviewing and incorporating GMA changes into the Comp Plan (see FAQs)
Updating data and conducting analyses
Analysis under the State Environmental Policy Act
Advisory committee meetings
Planning Commission work sessions and hearings
County Council meetings and hearings

More information, including public participation opportunities, drafts, and hearing dates, will be added to this page as they become available.

News feed

Materials from In-Person Engagement Events

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During the week of October 21, over 100 individuals attended in-person Comp Plan Update open house events and/or stopped to talk with the County's project team at the markets on San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez Islands. If you missed the chance to meet with us or would like to revisit the engagement materials, click HERE to view the information we shared at the open house events.
Reminder: You’re Invited to Attend Open Houses for the 2025 Comp Plan Update This Fall

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SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. October 14, 2024 – San Juan County is pleased to host a series of grocery store information booths and open house events on three islands where the community can learn more about the Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) Update, including the new Climate Element development, and provide input. Come join us in planning for the next 20 years and beyond!
Are you interested in providing you feedback online? Use this quick survey to lend your voice to the conversation: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SanJuan2045.
SAN JUAN ISLAND
Tuesday - October 22, 2024:
SJI GRANGE (4-6PM)
152 First St N, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
Friday - October 25, 2024:
FRIDAY HARBOR MARKET PLACE (10AM-1PM)
515 Market St, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
ORCAS ISLAND
Wednesday - October 23, 2024:
ISLAND MARKET (10AM-1PM)
469 Market St B, Eastsound, Orcas Island
Wednesday - October 23, 2024:
ORCAS FIRE STATION (4-6PM)
45 Lavender Ln, Eastsound, Orcas Island
LOPEZ ISLAND
Thursday - October 24, 2024:
LOPEZ VILLAGE MARKET (10AM-1PM)
162 Weeks Rd, Lopez Island
Thursday - October 24, 2024:
LOPEZ CENTER FOR COMMUNITY AND THE ARTS (5-7PM)
204 Village Rd, Lopez Island
About the 2025 Comp Plan Update
San Juan County is making steady progress toward its 2025 Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) Update with support from a consultant team and a grant from the Department of Commerce. There are four phases of the 2025 Comp Plan Update: initiate, analyze, prepare, and finalize. The project is currently in phase two which includes analyzing population, housing needs, and land capacity for housing and employment, as well as updating transportation, capital facilities, and utilities inventories. The analyses and inventories will inform preparation of draft goals, policies and potential Official Map amendments. The project is currently on track for completion by June 30, 2025.
As part of the 2025 update, San Juan County is developing a dedicated Climate Element and an accompanying Climate Action Plan (CAP). The Climate Element and CAP will provide a long-term vision, climate policies, and an implementation strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing our community for current and future climate impacts. By fostering a comprehensive approach to climate-related challenges, the County aims to pave the way for a resilient and sustainable future, ensuring the well-being of its residents and the preservation of its natural resources for generations to come.
Next Steps
The DCD will continue to work with internal work groups, County committees, and external organizations in the upcoming months to gather input and prepare to begin working on policy amendments with the consultant in December.
The public is invited to provide feedback online via this survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SanJuan2045.
Learn More
More information, including a project summary, newsfeed, up-to-date project timeline, FAQs, and document center containing drafts and staff reports can be found on the Comprehensive Plan’s Engage website: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/2025-comp-plan-update.
Contact: compplan@sanjuancountywa.gov
Information, resources, supporting documents and reports, and project timeline for the Climate Element and Action Plan can be found on the Climate Resilience Planning and Action Engage project page: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/climate-action
Contact: climate@sanjuancountywa.gov
About San Juan County’s Department of Community Development
San Juan County’s Department of Community Development is responsible for building permits and inspections, code enforcement, land use designations, long range planning, and more. The department’s main office is located at 135 Rhone Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about San Juan County’s Department of Community Development, visit www.sanjuancountywa.gov/1778/Community-Development.
About San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship
San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship is responsible for solid waste, marine resources, clean water, cultural resources, and climate and sustainability work. The department offices are located at 1609 Beaverton Valley Road, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship, visit www.sanjuanco.com/839/Environmental-Stewardship
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Fall 2024 Survey and In-Person Engagement

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San Juan County is hosting a series of grocery store information booths and open house events on three islands where the community can learn more about the Comprehensive Plan Update, including the new Climate Element development, and provide input.
There is also an online survey that will help the County identify priorities in several planning areas, including housing, transportation, economic development, and land use. www.surveymonkey.com/r/SanJuan2045.
In-person events will be held on San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez Islands at the following locations and times:
SAN JUAN ISLAND
Tuesday - October 22, 2024:
SJI GRANGE (4-6PM)
152 First St N, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
Friday - October 25, 2024:
FRIDAY HARBOR MARKET PLACE (10AM-1PM)
515 Market St, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island

ORCAS ISLAND
Wednesday - October 23, 2024:
ISLAND MARKET (10AM-1PM)
469 Market St B, Eastsound, Orcas Island
Wednesday - October 23, 2024:
ORCAS FIRE STATION (4-6PM)
45 Lavender Ln, Eastsound, Orcas Island

LOPEZ ISLAND
Thursday - October 24, 2024:
LOPEZ VILLAGE MARKET (10AM-1PM)
162 Weeks Rd, Lopez Island
Thursday - October 24, 2024:
LOPEZ CENTER FOR COMMUNITY AND THE ARTS (5-7PM)
204 Village Rd, Lopez Island

Next Steps
The DCD will continue to work with internal work groups, County committees, and external organizations in the upcoming months to gather input and prepare to begin working on policy amendments with the consultant in December.
The public is invited to provide feedback online via this survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SanJuan2045.
Public Participation Coming Soon!

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San Juan County's Department of Community Development has spent the spring and summer working on the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update. These efforts have included working on the Land Capacity Analysis and Housing Needs Assessment. You can access the draft methodology document here: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/23876/widgets/80731/documents/58392.
As fall approaches, staff are eager to engage the public in a series of events on San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez Islands. These events (dates to be announced soon) will serve as opportunities for the public to learn, engage, and provide valuable feedback to the County.
Stay up to date on future meetings and engagement opportunities by subscribing to this project page. In the upper right corner of this screen, locate the 'STAY INFORMED' box and click the 'SUBSCRIBE' button. You'll need to sign into your account or register with your email to be notified of updates.
In the meantime, County staff will continue to present progress updates at regularly scheduled Council meetings. Find the Council meeting calendar here: https://sanjuancowa.portal.civicclerk.com/?category_id=27.
Do you have questions about the 2025 Comp Plan Update? Contact Sophia Cassam at sophiac@sanjuancountywa.gov.
First Draft Public Participation Plan

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The Comprehensive Plan update process includes opportunities for the public to learn, engage, and provide valuable feedback to the County. A Public Participation Plan will guide the County's engagement efforts during this project.
The first draft of the Public Participation Plan is now available. The Planning Commission will review and comment on the draft at their May 17, 2024 meeting. Feedback from the public, Planning Commission, County Council, and County staff will be incorporated into the draft in the coming weeks.
See the first draft Public Participation Plan here: https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29692/
Please submit any comments on the Public Participation Plan to Sophia Cassam at sophiac@sanjuancountywa.gov by May 27, 2024.