Development Director wants government offices in rural areas

||| BY STEVE BERNHEIM, ORCASONIAN REPORTER |||

Citing an “inconsistency” in the zoning code, Development Director David Williams has set a Planning Commission meeting for Friday, May 6, to gain support for his proposal to permit erection of county government office buildings in all rural zoning areas of the county except special “natural lands” designations. “We’re only talking about government offices today, nothing else is proposed to change,” Williams told the commissioners at their April 1 morning meeting.

The proposal “should have minimal if any negative” impact, Williams hoped in his March 15 memorandum, and “should help reduce the fuel and time needed to drive between facilities by staff as well reducing [sic] the greenhouse gasses associated with additional vehicle trips,” though he presented no evidence that such would be the case.

Williams said the impetus behind his proposal was to be able to provide better services across the entire county without having to build county offices on land that could be used for affordable housing or other uses. “That seems to take what valuable land we do have, we have to take care of these offices,” he told the meeting, “The county continues to grow, has to have increased services, these other parcels of land, suddenly we need to start buying more to start providing offices, to start providing things, so it makes sense to incorporate this all into basically one proposal.”

Williams told commissioners it was inconsistent that offices ancillary to fire and public works facilities are allowed in the rural zones but not other government offices: “This inconsistency creates a condition where government facilities can exist, such as the public works maintenance facility on Beaverton Valley, but does not allow offices (in more than an ancillary use) in that same facility,” he wrote, though he did not explain why he believes it is inconsistent to permit emergency or public works facilities such as fire stations or materials depots in rural areas while not permitting office buildings and parking lots.

One commissioner agreed with the proposal and said “it makes perfect sense to do that, to make that modification and I have no problems with it whatsoever.” Another commissioner also expressed his support asking, “How did this ever get put into place where county offices weren’t allowed at county facilities?” Williams replied, “Beats the heck out of me and nobody can come up with any history as to why this is.”

Observations why government offices are not permitted in rural zones and other comments on the proposal may be sent to davidw@sanjuanco.com. The planning commission meets Friday, May 6 at 8:30 a.m. to recommend or not repealing existing prohibitions on government offices in all rural zones. Information on how to watch or provide comments during the meeting may be found HERE. Regardless of Planning Commission review, the County Council will hear the matter May 17.