County Council sets public hearing on marijuana regulations for August 25

Official comment period is July 29 – August 25, 2020

— from San Juan County Communications —

NOTICE OF A SAN JUAN COUNTY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020, AT THE COUNTY COUNCIL HEARING ROOM, LEGISLATIVE BUILDING, 55 SECOND STREET, FRIDAY HARBOR, SAN JUAN ISLAND BEGINNING AT OR AFTER  9:15 AM TO OBTAIN TESTIMONY ON AN ORDINANCE REGULATING MARIJUANA PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING FACILITIES; AMENDING SJCC 18.20.130, 18.30.030, 18.30.040, 18.30.460; AND ADDING NEW SECTIONS

The County Council will take public testimony on the proposed marijuana production and processing development regulations. After taking testimony, the County Council will deliberate on the proposal and its adoption.  It is possible that the hearing will take place telephonically to comply with social distancing measures if they remain in effect through the hearing date.  Details for participating over the phone are provided below.  Notice will be posted to the County website if the hearing will be held in-person.

The proposed ordinance establishes:

1. Specific definitions of marijuana production and processing in the County’s development code.
2. Regulations for marijuana production and processing as a specific use in the land use tables of the code. 
3. Performance and siting standards to address potential adverse impacts to the environment, natural resource lands, public safety, rural character and neighborhood compatibility.

The hearing will begin at or after 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, August 25, 2020, at the County Council Chambers, 55 Second Street, Friday Harbor, WA.  Interested parties are encouraged to submit written or oral comments regarding the staff recommendation. To the hearing will be live streamed at https://www.sanjuanco.com/773/Council-Hearing-Room-Live-Stream.

Copies of the ordinance and staff reports are posted online at: https://www.sanjuanco.com/1585/Marijuana.  Please contact Adam Zack, Planner III, to request a hard copy of the ordinance and staff reports.

HOW TO COMMENT: The official comment period is July 29, 2020 through August 25, 2020.  Written comments submitted prior to 12:00 p.m. on August 24, 2020, will be copied for the County Council unless they wish to review comments online.  Please comment:

• Via Mail: Before the public hearing, mail written comments to Adam Zack, Department of Community Development (DCD) PO Box 947 Friday Harbor, WA 98250. 
• Via Email: Email comments to marijuanacomments@sanjuanco.com.  Title the subject line: Marijuana Ordinance.  For the record, include your full name and address.
• Via Oral Testimony: To join by phone, please call 1 (360) 370-0599 and use the meeting ID 441250#. Comments during the hearing may be submitted by email at councilpc@sanjuanco.com.

Copies: Please provide six (6) copies of written comments if you submit them to DCD after 12:00 p.m. on August 24, 2020, or if you distribute written comments at the public hearing.

Project Contact:  Adam Zack at (360) 370-7580 or adamz@sanjuanco.com.

Call in Contact:    Clerk at (360) 378-2898 or councilpc@sanjuanco.com.