New Master Plan for San Juan County Fairgrounds

Meeting on Orcas July 5

The San Juan County Parks and Fair Department is seeking input from residents as it begins development of a Master Plan for the fairgrounds.  Planners want to know what County residents think the future of the fairgrounds should be and hear their ideas about how to make that future a reality.

Public meetings are scheduled for:
•    Orcas at the Orcas Island Fire Hall, July 5, 4:30pm;
•    Lopez at the Lopez Center for Community and the Arts, July 6, 5:00pm;
•    San Juan at the Marie Boe Building on the fairgrounds, July 7, 5:00pm

Longtime San Juan County resident Geoffrey Prentiss, owner of Prentiss Architects, Inc., has been awarded the contract to develop the master plan.  Other members of the team include San Juan Island resident Francine Shaw, a land use planner with the Law Office of Stephanie O’Day; Gregg Bronn, with Hart Pacific Engineering’s office on Orcas; and Chris Overdorf, affiliated with ELM in Seattle.

Phase One of the project will  evaluate the condition and suitability of  fairground’s existing buildings, barns, camping areas, annual Fair use areas, day use and undeveloped areas for current and expanded year round uses. Information from that evaluation and  the initial public input will be compiled in an interim report.

During Phase Two of the project, the public will be invited to a booth at the annual Fair to review the findings and submit comments. Also during Phase Two, planners will design additional plan elements including innovative and environmental upgrades.. Special attention will be paid to the “greening” of the facilities through technological improvements; long term maintenance efficiency; structural durability and economical sustainability.

In Phase Three of the planning process, these options will come before the public in county wide meetings for comments and ideas which will help us complete a long term plan that addresses the interests and needs of county residents.

The master plan is scheduled to be completed in November, 2011.  For further information, contact Geoff Prentiss, geoff@prentissarchitects.com , (206) 283-9930 or Francine Shaw, fshaw@rockisland.com , 360-378-6278.