Today, Nov. 4 Agricultural Stakeholders from noon to 2 p.m. in Eastsound Fire Hall
Washington State mulled for over four years if agricultural areas should be included in the required Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) updates. Last July, it decided that agriculture was indeed a critical component of the protective ordinance update, required of San Juan County as part of its compliance with the Growth Management Act (GMA).
Today, from noon until 2 p.m. the issues and options in the Agricultural Component of the CAO update, will be discussed at the Eastsound Fire Hall. The meeting is sponsored by the county Agriculture Resources Committee (ARC) to inform the broader agricultural stakeholder community.
At the County Council meeting on Nov. 1, the ARC recommended that the whole county be a single watershed, and opt into the “Voluntary Stewardship Program,” that addresses the agricultural areas in the CAO updates
Orcas West County Council Member Richard Fralick told the Eastsound Planning Review Committee (EPRC) yesterday, “Agricultural has been excluded from the discussion of CAO update, but in July, the state adopted the voluntary stewardship program to include agriculture in the CAO.”
San Juan County faces a Jan. 22, 2012 deadline to decide whether to “build’ agriculture into the critical areas update, or to opt into the voluntary stewardship plan. Fralick said yesterday, “Supposedly there will be funding to develop program, but if ‘adequate’ funding is not provided, we don’t have to buy in to program.
“But ‘adequate’ is not defined,” Fralick said.
Orcas East Council Member Patty Miller said that should the County decided to build agriculture into its CAO update, they will have six months to do so. If, however, they decide to opt in to the voluntary stewardship plan, they will be granted $150,000 to help in planning.
Fralick told the EPRC, “This is a huge topic, and I’m very upset we don’t have enough time to consider its ramifications.
“There are a number of ‘off-ramps,’ but what they mean and who executes, we’re still trying to get some clarification as to what that means”
The County Council has asked Prosecuting Attorney Randy Gaylord for a ruling on the matter.
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