— by Lin McNulty —
“We are currently in a feasibility study,” stressed Orcas Recycling (ORS) Board President Tim Blanchard, as if he could not say it enough during a public meeting at Eastsound Fire Station on Sunday, December 7. What is going to happen with the new Exchange building, what it will look like, or where it will be is not, at this point in time, a “foregone conclusion.”
In a move to make the process transparent, to receive public input, and to quash the inevitable rumors, ORS called a town hall meeting as they consider the purchase of a 35-acre parcel of property on Orcas Road, commonly referred to as the Carlson property.
The proposal includes:
- Acquisition of an existing commercial building
- Approximately 5 acres of the property grandfathered as commercial
- An approximate 30 acres designated as Agricultural Land
- Upgrade existing building to quickly reopen the Exchange
- Ownership by ORS to provide a permanent home for The Exchange
- Opportunities for efficient composting, incorporation of goats to eat noxious weeds, mushrooms to eliminate petroleum products spilled onto the ground, and a variety of cooperative community programs
- Improve land use consistent with appearance and productivity of the parcel
- Use Transfer Station space for recycling.
The Exchange was originally incorporated in 1985 as an entity of the non-profit Orcas Recycling Services by George Post and others. When The Exchange was destroyed by fire in February 2013, ORS had already submitted a bid to operate both the Transfer Station and preserve The Exchange.
The ORS Mission Statement is “Building a zero waste community through service, education and responsible stewardship of our waste/resource streams.” Their core values include:
- Community
- Stewardship
- Accountability
- Integrity
- Neighborliness
- Initiative
- Creativity
- Education
- Service
- Sustainability
- Resourcefulness
ORS currently has a renewable lease contract with the County to operate the Orcas Transfer Station for five years and one day. This 66-page document, plus attachments, has many requirements, limits, and cross-references. Although the current site has a history as “a reuse facility,” the possibility remains that the County could terminate the contract at any time, should the political landscape change.
To those who question “Why not put The Exchange back where it was before? ” Blanchard explained there is no simple (inexpensive) answer to that burning question. Much work would need to be done to the existing property, including a revised traffic circulation plan to relieve Orcas Road of backup. Some cleanup of the former Exchange reuse facility site has already been accomplished, to include removal and recycling of over 40 tons of materials.
The existing Exchange site is only one acre in size and would require roadways and parking to be incorporated. That doesn’t leave much room for an actual building. One of the proposals includes a “Big Roof Concept,” and the use of shipping containers and a membrane roof (a synthetic stretched material). There can be no more spots outside where building materials are stored. Code requires everything to be under cover. The Carlson property already has a large building that is not turnkey and will, according to Blanchard, require some upgrading.
Recycling is not Included in the proposed Carlson purchase plan; the dump or any garbage activity will remain at the current transfer site.
Moving The Exchange to a new site will allow more room to efficiently and effectively manage recycling—an important component of the ORS’ Zero Waste goal. As recently discovered by a group of middle schoolers, our island recycling is not clean and includes many unrecyclables. The more recycling that can be done on island, the less the cost to have it shipped off. The Exchange will not be the recycling site. The Exchange will not fundamentally change the “pay what you can” model. Donations from the Exchange will not be used to subsidize the transfer station operations, nor vice versa.
There is still lots to look at before a final decision is made. The Carlson property will not be purchased, nor a building erected at the current site, until a full feasibility study, environmental review, and due diligence are completed, along with community support for the proposal. “A variety of things are possible, but we can’t do them all just because it’s a good idea,” says Blanchard. “The board has not had a chance to explore everything that is possible.”
Meanwhile, several cautions were offered by attendees with concerns such as noise, extra traffic, zoning, inconvenience in having to make two stops for The Exchange and the dump. “Don’t sell this to the community as a shortcut to getting a building,” cautioned Fred Klein. “You won’t be able to significantly alter the existing building [on the Carlson property].”
“Why would we abandon that opportunity we have had for 30 years and move it somewhere else,” asked George Post “Getting rid of that one-site concept is mind boggling.”
What is the community willing to support? “What keeps us awake at night,” said Blanchard, “is how to put the Exchange back, and we cannot put it back the way it was.There is still a bunch of site planning to be done once we know what’s happening with the new proposed site.”
“A contingency plan exists to put The Exchange onto the transfer station site, but it would cost about the same, depending…. We want The Exchange back in the next calendar year,” added Blanchard. “We are not closing our eyes to additional options while we pursue the Carlson property. It’s only quicker if it works,” stated Blanchard. “No way is this a done deal. If we can’t get the conditional use permit to do what we want to do then we don’t buy it.”
The Exchange is donation-supported and ORS has begun the search for funding to support the New Exchange.
A downloadable PDF of the ORS slideshow presentation is available HERE, including site drawings and aerial views.
Okay, maybe I’m being a bit naive, but why does there have to be “a revised traffic circulation plan” to avoid backup on Orcas Road when I don’t remember ever having to wait longer than a couple cars and I certainly wasn’t causing a backup on Orcas Road, nor was anyone else. Sounds like people are looking for an excuse to get the Carlson property and have us taxpayers pay for it. Sorry, guys, but it sounds like overkill to me. We need the Exchange back and soon. My garage is getting really full!
Kate, I’m guessing that it is not the ORS that wants to do a “revised traffic circulation plan”…sounds more like typical county “wisdom”. I’m also not sure how you are planning to have the taxpayers pay for something that is not on county land, but hey, go for it….. Sounds like there is as much or more confusion as before the meeting unfortunately. I, like most, really want to see the Exchange back and I’d prefer tohae it not belong to the county…. Merry
I’ve only lived on Orcas going on 4 years but I’m curious why the exchange is so beloved? When I went there, nearly everything was dirty from the weather. How many islanders have made money from yard sales, Buy Sell Trade and visited Score thrift shop or even Craigslist as opposed to finding useful items or disposing of something at the exchange? Just sayin’…
I like the idea of the exchange being off county property
I worked at The Exchange over a four-year period during my twenty, wonderful years living on Orcas. It was a grand idea that became an institution; an example of value and a resource for the community.I realize that space is an issue, but the space I think most important is a covered facility; a durable building that locks. I also agree that one-stop ‘dropping and shopping’ makes sense. It worked for 30 years on the county location and in my twenty years; I was not aware of any traffic tie-ups on the Orcas Road that constituted an issue of note. I am happy and not surprised to know that the Orcas community will see The Exchange doing business once again; preferably in tandem with a transfer station. It makes good sense.
Oooh Rebecca. Questioning the wonders of our old Exchange is like doubting the benefit of breathing clean air or drinking pure water. The Exchange provided me, many times, an absolutely wonderful alternative to dumping a perfectly good sofa, coffee pot, gardening equipment, etc., etc.; and/or buying great plastic-ware, bikes, working printers, canning-jars, and many, many little things that cost $3.99 at a store (for 15 of them of which you only need one!!) but are there for the buying and re-using at the Exchange. Yes, the things may need washing, cleaning, or de-rusting, but what pleasure in not wasting natural resources. I am not a total ecology-nut, but I do think that if I can refurbish and reuse something, it is far better for our little world.
Apart from that, if you want to keep the costs of Orcas garbage removal from increasing, support the new Exchange wherever it may be. If we did not use the Exchange we would end up dumping reusable items into a landfill …. not good.
Had I “dumped a perfectly good sofa” or any other household item at the old exchange I can guarantee it’d be damp and dusty and moldy within a few weeks. As I stated, Yard Sales, Buy Sell Trade and Thrift stores,as well as The Habitat for Humanity pick up are also alternatives. I really don’t need to be lectured on the merits of being environmentally conscientious, as I already am.
The cost putting Exchange back on San Juan Co property, ORS is legally forced to pay requirements which now are: No porta potty. Instead as bathroom w/flushable toilet & sink. The bathroom & Exchange bldg required to have cement floors (legally required by American disabilities act so wheelchair users go in/out safely. No well is on the 1 acre space. SJC doesn’t allow a well in their space on the North. Cost of an Exchange there about $500,000 & SJC can end the property rent in 5 yrs. Carlson 34 acres (about $375,000) has 2 floors bldg, cement floor, toilet, well and would forever owned by ORS (Orcas Island Community) with so much space for compost & free pea patch gardens.
For what it’s worth — I liked having the Exchange next to the Transfer Station; that was really handy. However, if the Exchange gets moved to the Carlson property, I would love it there too. In some ways that site is better: it is bigger, for one thing. I just want to see it back, as soon as possible! Perfection can be the enemy of Good Enough, & just getting it done would be good enough for me.
How many of us, when at the old site, walked from the recycling/dumping area to the Exchange??? I would hazard a guess: no one. We got in our cars, and drove down to, sometimes, not find space to park at the Exchange. So much for the “one site” concept. The Carlson property Exchange site will require us to use a few more pints of gas, but once there, we’ll find good sight lines for pulling into or leaving the property, ample parking, higher/dryer ground (better daylight…even sun), and a waterproof (yes?) enclosure with required facilities, water & toilet already present. That’s just the physical benefits; add to that the possibilities for future use that the land provides: composting, garden produce “exchange”, community gardens, renting space for livestock…. the Carlson site is a no-brainer.
Just to clarify some confusion: The contract we negotiated is actually not six pages but sixty-six pages plus supporting documents twice that or so. In the contract we are obliged to build the road and address the traffic issues regardless of where the Exchange will end up.
Sorry Rebecca, I didn’t mean to lecture … and that “perfectly good sofa” was gone by the end of the day!! Things that stayed around for longer periods of time did get moldy, you are right. I am sure that if a new building is built on site or if the Exchange moves to the Carlson property, it will be with metal and fabric goods under cover and lockable.
Whatever gets it up and running again soonest, gets my vote. Like Thea I really don’t care.
The Carlson site is on the right as you head to the ferry. It is about a quarter mile before Bode’s corner. (Westsound Rd.) It makes no sense to spend a dime at the old site when the County can pull the plug if they want. The only problem I see at the Carlson site is that it is a busy road and if you approach from the south turning left into the property if a lot of traffic is heading to the ferry could be a problem.
Leif: These questions were addressed at the meeting.