2025 Comprehensive Plan Update

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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 the end of 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.

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 the end of 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.

  • 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.