2025 Comprehensive Plan Update

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. January 3, 2025 – San Juan County is in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) as part of its 2025 Growth Management Act Periodic Update – and your input is welcome! Today, the draft documents for Element 2, Land Use are available for review and public comment.

En Español: La actualización del Plan Integral del condado de San Juan es un proceso vital que forja el porvenir de la comunidad. Sus ideas nos son esenciales, y puede participar de varias maneras. Guía para participar en la actualización del Plan Integral del condado de San Juan.

The San Juan County Planning Commission will review the draft Element 2, Land Use and Rural amendments at their January 17, 2025 meeting. The meeting agenda is available HERE. Agenda items related to the Comprehensive Plan Update include:

• Draft amendments to:
  • Element 2, Land Use and Rural: https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/31554/

Public comments specific to this element can be submitted by January 16 for review at the Planning Commission meeting on January 17, though comments may be submitted at any time throughout the update process. Send comments to: compplan@sanjuancountywa.gov.

Public Engagement

The Comp Plan Update shapes the future of our community and there are several ways you can participate:

• Provide written feedback: Written comments provide an opportunity to share detailed thoughts, concerns, or suggestions. Written comments can directly impact the policies and priorities outlined in the plan. To submit feedback, email your comments or questions to compplan@sanjuancountywa.gov.
• Speak at a Planning Commission meeting: The Planning Commission meets monthly on the third Friday of the month at 8:30am. These meetings are open to the public with “Public Access Time” at the beginning of each meeting, where anyone can share their input. Check the meeting agenda to see which elements will be discussed that month.
• Stay Informed: Regular updates help you understand the process, follow developments, and participate effectively. View the Guide to Getting Involved in the Comp Plan Update (en Español) to learn more about reviewing draft amendments during this project.

Over the coming months, the County will begin reviewing specific elements in an effort 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.

For additional information about the Comp Plan Update process including upcoming meetings, agendas, past drafts, and new documents to review, visit https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/2025-comp-plan-update and https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/589/Planning-Commission.

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The San Juan County Planning Commission will review draft Land Capacity Analysis results and begin its review of draft amendments to Comprehensive Plan Elements at their December 20, 2024 meeting. The meeting agenda is available HERE. Agenda items related to the Comprehensive Plan Update include:

• Draft Land Capacity Analysis Results
• Draft amendments to:
  • Element 1, Governance
  • Element 4, Water Resources
  • Element 9, Historical and Archaeological Preservation

To submit comments on the above items, please email compplan@sanjuancountywa.gov by December 19, 2024 at 12pm.

View the Guide to Getting Involved in the Comp Plan Update to learn more about reviewing draft amendments during this project.

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.

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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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.

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.

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.