— from San Juan County Communications —
San Juan County Department of Community Development (DCD) is accepting applications for detached ADU permits proposed outside of urban growth areas and activity centers until 4:30 pm February 13 2017. There are 8 permits for the construction of new ADUs and 2 permits for the conversion of existing accessory structures, legally in existence for five years.
DCD’s ADU eligibility application form must be completed and submitted along with the fee of $245. This form is available at www.sanjuanco.com/dcd or can be provided by DCD. Complete applications must be submitted to DCD in person at DCD’s office during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm (except holidays), at 135 Rhone Street, Friday Harbor, Washington, or by mail at P.O. Box 947, 98250.
If needed, a lottery will take place on March 8, 2017 and will be open to the public. The time and place will be noted on the DCD website ten days prior to the drawing. Applications received after February 13 are ineligible for the lottery, but will be added to a waitlist.
Questions? (360) 378-2354 or email dcd@sanjuanco.com.
So… why only eight??? Many more are Needed. The squeezing of people into Eastsound can be remedied, but only eight?
Is there a logical answer out there? Thanks! Spirit Eagle
Thank you for this information, I wonder if it could be expounded upon of the limitations and timeline constraints that is presented here.. There has been a huge asking by our community for an opportunity for long term housing possibilities on outlying areas on Orcas proper.
I understand that there is a (mandate) of 50% of our population growth to be in Eastsound, which in (my) opinion is not a universal desire of the masses.
I like Eastsound, live and work there, but I’m a very small percentage of what I’ve experienced on Orcas. When does the bigger discussion happen where the masses can actually help govern the whole island culture. We hear about Vision planning in Eastsound, but what about the BIG picture..
Thank you again for sharing this, all good stuff, I’m hoping our Country looks at the high fruit then feeds us all!!
If my memory is correct years ago The Friends of the San Juans sued the County claiming ADU’s were illegal because they caused double density and rather than let a court decide Randy Gaylord settled and this was part of the settlement. I’m surprised to see that there are 8 available. It use to be 2 a year.
The limit is only on detached ADUs. I’m don’t think there is a limit on the number of attached ADUs. Does this make sense? Not to me. If you create a 1,000 square foot addition to an existing house, how is that any different than a free standing 1,000 square foot structure. When we built in 2012 we wanted to convert the upper story of an existing barn to an ADU. The county wouldn’t permit it because we were under the five acre minimum. So to avoid excessive building coverage on a lot we added another 1,000 square feet of building to the lot instead of utilizing an existing building. That makes no sense to me.
The ADU story is only part of a much larger story that most people do not know about. It is a complex story not intelligently reduced to a few sentences. In our oversaturated information society, I ask those who want to understand the big picture to take the time to read the outlines, and if you wish, the details, of this story at doebay.net/appeal
The story you will learn about there is not over. SJC is beginning the process of updating the county’s comprehensive plan. That single document describes the scope, scale and vision of our future, which, today, absent your thoughtful input, will allow the population in the county, currently 4 times greater than when I arrived here some 4 decades ago, to quadruple again. The letter I wrote to the then BOCC in January 1995 could easily be submitted again. You can read it, and much more, at the web site mentioned above. Thoughtful constructive supportive innovative and wise conversations need to happen if we are to construct and live within the confines of a document that is the official legal portrait of where we are going. It is up to each of you to ask if that document conforms to your hopes and dreams, and if not, to participate with wisdom, compassion and persistence to redirect the ship.
Jim, the first sentence says detached. “San Juan County Department of Community Development (DCD) is accepting applications for detached ADU permits proposed outside of urban growth areas and activity centers until 4:30 pm February 13 2017.”