The Eastsound Waterfront Park is one of the few public-access beaches on Orcas Island

By Mindy Kayl

Orcas Island has 77 miles of coastline and one mile of that is public access. Crescent Beach, the Eastsound Waterfront Park, Judd Cove and the sandy beach near Deer Harbor Marina make up a large part of that one mile and they are open to the public thanks to their purchase by the San Juan County Land Bank.

The Land Bank partnered with the San Juan Preservation Trust to purchase Turtleback Mountain, and cooperated with the Trust for Public Lands to purchase and restore Judd Cove, and is using a United States Department of Agriculture grant to conduct Garry Oak restoration on Cady Mountain on San Juan Island.

Some Land Bank properties are important to watersheds, others have historical value, like the Olga Art Works Building, and some need restoration efforts, which will provide learning opportunities.

The Land Bank now owns 3,500 acres across the county (including the 50 year lease with the state for Lopez Hill) and manages conservation easements on 1,900 acres of privately owned property. Over 70 percent  of Land Bank properties feature public access and an additional 300 acres are being actively farmed under leases from the Land Bank.

All Land Bank properties are protected in perpetuity.

The Land Bank was created by local citizens for the benefit of local citizens: its funding for land purchases comes from a one percent tax paid by purchasers of county real estate.

The Land Bank was first approved by county voters in 1990; it was last renewed in 1999 for 14 years. Because it is a county government agency and is legally prohibited from using any funds or resources for campaigning, a group of local citizens is sponsoring a signature drive to get the Land Bank renewal on the November 2011 ballot. Renewing in 2011, well ahead of the 2014 deadline, allows the Land Bank to plan and budget for continued operations and participate in lengthy, ongoing property negotiations by knowing that its funding is secured through 2026.

Harvey Himmelfarb is one of  that group who are working to renew the Land Bank. Himmelfarb says the group is “Not asking for something new, just a renewal.”

The signature drive is not voting for the renewal, it will only get the renewal measure on the ballot for a county wide vote this fall.

Dave Zoeller, Orcas Islander and fellow member of the signature campaign, said the drive “guarantees the 1% real estate excise tax (paid by buyers of all property in San Juan County) as funding for another 12 years.”

The petition campaign will be conducted until the end of July, with petitions available at the Saturday Farmer’s Market and at the following locations:

  • Orcas Hotel (at the landing)
  • Deer Harbor Marina
  • Doe Bay Resort and Retreat
  • Crow Valley Pottery (Eastsound)
  • Orcas Homegrown Market & Deli
  • Peter Fisher Photography (Eastsound)

The Land Bank’s mandate is: “To preserve in perpetuity areas in the county that have environmental, agricultural, aesthetic, cultural, scientific, historic, scenic or low-intensity recreational value and to protect existing and future potable water.”

The Land Bank funding structure calls for the fee of one percent of purchase price to be paid by the buyer. Land Bank Director Lincoln Bormann say, “The fee is paid by people who join our community, who enjoy the benefit of the work already done and help preserve the very qualities that caused them to choose to live here.”

The Land Bank has a history of making that one percent go a long way. By cooperating with other groups the Land Bank is able to extend purchasing power, acquire grant funding and share scientific expertise.

The Land Bank website may be found at www.sjclandbank.org. Information about the renewal drive may be found also at www.renewourlandbank.org.

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