By Terry Gillespie
The San Juan Builder’s Association supports good community planning. Our island’s environment, our quality of life, and our community social structure are exceptional. The San Juan Islands are a treasure. The County’s Vision Statement, (the preamble to the County’s GMA-approved Comprehensive Plan), the GMA’s 14 planning elements and the current SJC Shoreline Master Program are a reasonable combination of rules which are sustaining our island way of life.
Experience shows that our citizens, working families, and small businesses generally do the best they can to follow the rules. Sometimes they may not understand the fine points of the ever-changing County requirements or may not be financially capable of dealing with the ever increasing County demands for various fees, “professional” studies, expensive permits and a blizzard of bureaucratic nonsense. The latest Orcas dust-up over wetlands, permits, the Friends and County officials is a good example.
For their part, the Friends of the San Juan’s don’t seem to care what their aggressive agenda is doing to our island community. Originally the Friends were formed to advocate for a balanced comprehensive plan and our unique community vision; what happened? By embracing an activist agenda, bullying citizens, and their behind the scenes lobbying, they have lost their way and they have lost community support.
Just as the Friends have lost sight of their original purpose, the County has lost sight of its obligation to provide clear planning rules and basic permitting at affordable prices and most important, providing non-confrontational help to those who are having trouble navigating the County’s system. County officials with secure positions, good monthly salaries and benefits seem to forget that in the private sector, many businesses and workers are struggling.
Even professional contractors have a hard time keeping up with all the changes and new requirements. Now contractors, builders, those in the trades and suppliers have even bigger worries what does the future hold if the Council passes their new Critical Areas Ordinance? It appears that to the Council and their planners, our businesses and employees are expendable.
Terry Gillespie is President of the San Juan Builders Association
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A property owner asked, “What have I done wrong with my property?” The answer, “You live there!” If you are concerned with the “reasonable use exception” of 2500 square feet, be grateful that the “Friends” desire for 800 square feet wasn’t adopted. Wait until the next ordinance on CO2 reduction is debated, and we get to argue on a “reasonable use exception” for use of a motor vehicle.
Very well written and right on. Too bad the county folks who could do something seem to be tone deaf or blind (or obligated to the “friends”). It takes courage to say anything in this county or disagree with the “friends”.
Good comments and perspective by Terry Gillespie. The “Friends” of the San Juans are loosing friends and public support faster than they can make new ones over the CAO issue. Ultimately, since the “Friends” are not elected, the public must hold our elected officials accountable at the ballot box beginning with the next election.
Bingo
Terry, thank you. A sincere observation.
There is little doubt that the system in place now is not working well. If it were, there wouldn’t be so much confusion and distrust. The question is, how will it get any better or any clearer for all those involved?
I look forward to balanced and wise leadership on this issue from the county.
For those concerned about this issue the Eagle Forum of San Juan County is holding a Town Hall at the Discovery House (Rosario) on March 31 @ 6 pm. Clyde Duke
Great piece–The usual response from the very people who are directing this expensive and meaningless charade will always be “YOU don’t know the SCIENCE” but “we don’t have to show you the science” AND “you are ONLY thinking of your economic self-interest.” So we’re too dumb to understand and so dumb that we worry about not being able to build homes or renovate them or operate our construction-related businesses. Perhaps the Friends can have the State and County representatives show up at your meeting, too. I’m sure that the “common folk” of the county would have some interesting questions for them.