Land Bank Updates | Agricultural leases approved on SJI & two future public hearings set

||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS |||

During [yesterday’s ] meeting, Council spent time with Conservation Land Bank staff reviewing agricultural leases and setting public hearings to consider the conveyance of a conservation easement and the sale of a portion of the Frazer Homestead to the National Park Service. 

Approval of Agricultural Leases  

The County’s Conservation Land Bank has been working to develop agricultural leases for portions of the Beaverton Marsh and Frazer Homestead Preserves on San Juan Island. In the fall and winter of 2023, the Land Bank put out a public request for long-term agricultural lease proposals, for which several strong proposals were received. Following much deliberation, in the spring of 2024, the Land Bank selected a prospective lessee for each property. 

During today’s Council meeting, a public hearing invited feedback from the community regarding the leases. Council approved both resolutions, thus authorizing multi-year leases of the preserves with the Shephard family for the Frazer Homestead and with the San Juan Island Grange for the Beaverton Marsh Preserve. All lease information can be found in the Council Agenda Packet located on the meeting page.

Upcoming Public Hearings  

Also during today’s meeting, Council set two additional public hearings for the purposes of considering the conveyance of a Conservation Easement to the San Juan Preservation Trust (SJPT) on Orcas Island’s North Shore Preserve and to consider authorizing the sale of a portion of San Juan Island’s Frazer Homestead Preserve to the National Park Service (NPS). The public hearings are scheduled for March 11 and 18 respectively.

Conservation Easement on North Shore Preserve + The San Juan Preservation Trust

The Land Bank purchased the North Shore Preserve in 2022 for $6,350,000.00 with the intention of selling a conservation easement on the property to SJPT for 50% of the purchase price. 

SJPT has secured grant funding through the Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration Fund (PSAR) and additional funding from private donors for the acquisition of the easement and is now ready to close the transaction.

The Council set a public hearing on a special meeting on March 11, 2025 at 9:00am to consider a resolution authorizing the conveyance of a Conservation Easement to SJPT. 

Selling a Portion of the Frazer Homestead Preserve to the National Park Service (NPS)

The Land Bank purchased the eastern portion of the Frazer Homestead Preserve in 2006 with the express goal of conserving views, creating an opportunity for continued agriculture, and creating a roadside trail connected to American Camp.  The Land Bank Commission also stated its intention of considering a resale of all or a portion of the property.

NPS now wishes to purchase the southern two lots for inclusion into the San Juan Islands National Historical Park.  NPS believes this portion of the property encompasses the homestead of Lyman Cutler, best known for his role in the dispute between the British and United States governments, known as the “Pig War.”

NPS initiated discussions with Land Bank staff several years ago and began the acquisition process. Funding has been granted and the property was appraised in 2024.  NPS is now ready to proceed with the acquisition.   The Land Bank Commission has approved resale of these two parcels to NPS for the appraised value.

The Council set a public hearing on March 18, 2025 at 9:00am to consider a resolution authorizing a direct sale of a portion of the Frazer Homestead Preserve to the National Park Service.

How to Participate in the Public Hearing:  

• Written comments may be submitted in advance of the hearing by mail, email, or at the hearing, or by delivery in-person.  Mail can be sent to 350 Court Street #1, Friday Harbor, WA 98250; email to councilpc@sanjuancountywa.gov. 
• You can attend the Council meeting in-person. You may speak in-person and sign-ups will be available in the room. The meeting will be held in the Council Hearing Room at 55 Second Street, Friday Harbor, WA.  
• You can also call-in to make a comment. To call-in and sign-up for Public Comment, visit: https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/1879/Public-Comment-Signup. After signing up, call in at 9:00am to join meeting via telephone: +1 360-726-3293 Phone Conference ID: 630 068 600# 
• If you are watching or listening to the Council livestream, please turn it off when calling in for Public Comment. 
• You can access the livestream here: https://sanjuancowa.portal.civicclerk.com/  
• If you forget to sign up – no worries! Just make yourself known when the Council Chair asks for any additional comments.   

Note: The Council wants to hear your ideas or concerns. To ensure equal opportunity for the public to comment, comments may be limited in length. Each person may address the Council one time during the public comment period. 

Questions about the public hearing? Reach out to Clerk to the Council, Sally Rogers at sallyr@sanjuancountywa.gov?  

Questions about the Land Bank? Reach out to Tanja Williamson, Outreach/Volunteer Coordinator, tanjaw@sjclandbank.org, 360-378-4402

About San Juan County’s Land Bank

San Juan County’s Land Bank, funded by a 1% real estate excise tax paid by purchasers of property at closing, acquires and preserves areas in the county that have environmental, agricultural, aesthetic, cultural, scientific, historic, scenic, or low-intensity recreational value. The department offices are located at 328 Caines Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about San Juan County’s Land Bank, visit www.sjclandbank.org.