||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS |||

During this week’s Council meeting, staff briefed Council on a formal request to site an Essential Public Facility (EPF) for the Department of Public Works on Shaw Island. During the meeting, Council also set a public hearing for May 20 to allow for members of the community to make public comment on the topic.

Project Background

The County’s Public Works Department is seeking to site an essential public facility on Shaw Island to support the operations and maintenance of public transportation infrastructure on the island. The department is following the process outlined in San Juan County Code 18.30.055 for formally site and permit the facilities and is following guidance from the County’s Comprehensive Plan, the State’s Growth Management Act, and the Shaw Island Subarea Plan.

Public Works has evaluated the three parcels owned by Public Works on Shaw Island – including the two parcels purchased on Neck Point Road in June 2024 and the parcel currently used for Public Works functions on Blind Bay Rd. County staff have submitted a full site analysis and a SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) checklist to the Department of Community Development, for which a public comment period will be held in early May. Specifics dates are yet to be determined, but notice will be provided.

Learn more about the project on the County’s website: https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/278/Current-Projects

About the Facility

The requested EPF would support the Public Works Department in maintaining public transportation infrastructure on Shaw Island. This facility will provide for specific needs including a space for material disposal, a burn site for woody debris, an outdoor storage yard, and serve as a maintenance facility, among other uses.

To review the EPF proposal, please visit:

https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/32260/Request-for-Siting-an-Essential-Public-Facility-on-Shaw. Copies of the proposal will be mailed without charge upon request.

You can learn more about this project via past new flashes:

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?  

For more information, please contact Mackenzie Sims, Capital Programs Manager, at mackenzies@sanjuancountywa.gov.

 

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