Eastsound Vision Survey Results: Orcas Residents Value Natural Environment and “Village” Quality of Eastsound

— from the Eastsound Planning and Review Committee (EPRC) —

Thank you to the 388 Orcas residents who completed all 65 questions in the recent Eastsound Vision survey and to the additional 217 who completed part of the survey. The large number of people completing the survey creates an accurate picture of Orcas opinion to plus-or-minus 4.75%

The Eastsound Vision survey is the completion of a year-long citizen process, facilitated by the Eastsound Planning and Review Committee (EPRC), that began in January 2017 with a citizen visioning process, continued through spring and summer as citizen workgroups used the vision to create recommendations for updating the Eastsound Subarea plan, and wrapped up in October by a test of the recommendations through the survey. No other citizen group in the San Juan County has spent as much time — thousands of individual hours — as the Eastsound Vision groups in thinking about the future. As a result of this process, the EPRC has forwarded recommendations for revision to the Eastsound Subarea Plan section of the San Juan County Comprehensive Plan, which will be updated this year.

The survey results indicate that Orcas residents highly value their natural environment, the welfare of all island residents, and the “village” quality of Eastsound. Residents would also like a resolution of village parking issues and the completion of Eastsound streetscapes.

Those workgroup recommendations scoring highest include the following:
• the use of nature-based stormwater systems (similar to system behind the Village Green) in Eastsound
• the adaptation of “dark sky” lighting standards for the Eastsound Urban Growth area.
• the protection of the waters, flora, and fauna of the Eastsound Swale and Fishing and Ship Bays
• the creation of inter-generational housing for seniors
• a community conversation about the future of Crescent Beach
• the adoption of design-standards for new single-family residences within the Village Commercial area
• a resolution to the problematic traffic patterns at the end of A-Street (by Seaview theater and Post Office)
• the creation of a Village Square in the Fern Street right-of-way (between Prune Alley and North Beach Road)
• the development of “cluster” parking both within and outside Eastsound Village
• the completion of the Eastsound Village streetscape, with decisions for “sidewalk-and-gutter” or “rustic-trail” design made street-by-street
• the addition of dark-sky compliant pedestrian lighting to Eastsound
• limiting vacation rentals within Eastsound to the current ratio of vacation rentals to occupied residences
• expansion of Village Commercial and Village Residential zones if need is determined by county growth analyses

Survey respondents described a community responsibility to address the issue of affordable housing. They would also like to see incentives for employers to develop seasonal housing for their employees. In the area of economic development, respondents prefer industries that respect the natural environment, such as agriculture, locally-made goods, and eco-tourism.

Complete results of the Eastsound Vision Survey are available at eastsoundvision.com. The EPRC meets from 3 to 6 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Firehouse. Community attendance and input is welcomed. See also https://theorcasonian.com/vision-survey-directs-eprc-priorities/