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Given current budget constraints, staff is evaluating how to prioritize time and resources across the county

||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS |||

During this week’s Council meeting, the siting process for an Essential Public Facility (EPF) for Public Works on Shaw Island was reviewed. The County may choose to pause the process following the November 24 Public Hearing to allow the organization time to reassess the best path forward.

Given current budget constraints, staff is evaluating how to prioritize time and resources across the county. While this project remains important for supporting Shaw Island’s infrastructure needs, the Council may choose to pause work on the EPF siting. As a result, the storage container at the County’s Blind Bay Rd property will continue to be used. The absence of an EPF will also limit Public Works’ ability to mobilize large crews to Shaw Island and therefore likely exclude chip seal operations in 2027.

In the meantime, Public Works will continue operating from the Blind Bay Rd property to service the community as the County explores next steps. 

Project Background

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

As part of this process, the County 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 submitted a full site analysis and a SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) checklist to the Department of Community Development. 

About the Facility

The requested EPF would support the Public Works Department in maintaining public transportation infrastructure on Shaw Island. This facility would provide for specific needs including a shop and workspace, restroom facility, and staging area for projects related to Public Works road maintenance and Parks Department maintenance.

Possible activities would include chipping, burning, or storing natural debris pulled from shoulders and roadsides, storing vehicles and/or equipment in the various protected structures, and engaging in small carpentry projects like picnic table construction and sign repairs for the County Park. County work crews may assemble at the property for assignments, use restroom facilities, and to take lunch breaks.   

Note: These activities would only be performed when County staff are on site to complete work and provide services to the community. When crews are not mobilized to Shaw, the majority of the property will be a quiet storage yard.     

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

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

About San Juan County’s Public Works Department

San Juan County’s Public Works Department constructs and maintains county roads. The department offices are located at 1609 Beaverton Valley Rd, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about San Juan County’s Public Works Department, visit www.sanjuancountywa.gov/277/Public-Works.

 

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