||| FROM CRAIG CANINE for SAN JUAN PRESERVATION TRUST |||
We’re aware that the Glenwood Inn/North Shore Conservation Easement acquisition has become a subject of public discussion and confusion, especially on Orcas Island. We can’t control all the rumors, but the basic facts are these:
- First, the good news: The sale of the 58-acre North Shore parcel has closed successfully, and the people of San Juan County now own it, via the Land Bank and under the terms of its charter. The Land Bank has started work on a management plan that will, eventually, provide for public access to the property’s 1,800 feet (or about one-third of a mile) of breathtaking marine shoreline. For news and details on how the Land Bank’s plan is progressing, see HERE.
- However, it has come to light over the course of the past month or so that members of the County Council have voiced ideas regarding their desired use of the property that conflict with the terms that we (SJPT) and the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank have agreed upon after more than a year of painstaking negotiations. At issue is the number of development rights that will be retained under the terms of a conservation easement that will, when finalized and purchased from the county by the Preservation Trust, permanently protect the property’s considerable conservation values to the community.
- Conversations between the Preservation Trust, Land Bank, and County Council are underway. We feel confident that good-faith communication between all parties will soon resolve the development-rights question. The legal negotiations and other work needed to complete the conservation easement will take longer; but here, too, we are confident of an outcome that meets all conservation and financial goals while preserving the integrity of the highly productive SJPT-Land Bank relationship that has been built over 30+ years.
- Our complementary partnership with the Land Bank has resulted in the acquisition and protection of many iconic and beloved places in the islands, including Mount Grant and Zylstra Lake preserves on San Juan Island, Watmough Bay Preserve on Lopez Island, and Turtleback Mountain Preserve on Orcas Island. We will do our utmost to ensure that this legacy of dual-layered conservation protection continues into the future.
Are you going to develop the property? For what uses? Is development part of the Land Bank and Preservation Trust’s charters?
Some more information would be helpful.
Tom,
From the Land Bank link in the article above:
North Shore (Glenwood Inn) Property
Acquisition and Property Overview
Beginning in early 2022, the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank (Land Bank) and the San Juan Preservation Trust (SJPT) worked together to purchase the former Glenwood Inn. Made possible by a 1% Real Estate Excise Tax paid by those purchasing land in San Juan County and by funds being raised by SJPT (click here to learn more about SJPT’s fundraising campaign), this $6.35 million purchase ensures that this land will be managed as a public natural area that provides low-intensity recreational access via forest and beach trails. This is especially important, as Orcas is the largest island in the San Juan Islands archipelago but has the lowest percentage of publicly accessible shoreline of any of the ferry-served islands.
Property highlights:
58 acres in size
Property features mature forests, wetlands, over 1,800 feet of shoreline, and a half-acre of tidelands.
The upland and shoreline areas support a variety of plants, fungi, mammals, birds, amphibians and insects, while the nearshore area supports eelgrass and forage fish vital to native salmon.
Located in one of the highest priority regions in the San Juan Islands for salmon recovery.
Please note: no overland access to Point Doughty.
What is next:
As the owner and manager of the property, the Land Bank will lead a public process to establish a Stewardship and Management Plan. During an Interim Period, which is expected to last up to three years, the Land Bank will complete cultural, historical and ecological assessments, prepare an Interim Stewardship and Management Plan and complete a variety of projects to improve the ecological health, safety and accessibility of the property.
We are grateful for your support and cooperation while we plan the future of this preserve, and we ask that you respect the privacy of neighboring property owners. If you have questions or concerns, please call 360-378-4402 or email sjclandbank@sjclandbank.org.
Property Access During the Interim Period
Land Bank staff will lead three tours per month beginning in late July. Click here to sign up for a scheduled tour. We will adjust the schedule as necessary based on demand. Please note: due to limited parking, tours will be capped at 10 vehicles. Carpooling and cycling encouraged.
The property is surrounded by private residences. This includes private beaches to the east and west and it is essential that the Land Bank and the public respect their privacy and property rights. We understand that there is strong community interest in this property, and we seek your support and cooperation while we plan for and prepare it for opening.
Volunteer Opportunities
The Land Bank will also provide opportunities to participate in volunteer work parties. This will help extend the abilities of the Land Bank’s small staff (two Orcas-based employees) and provide additional access during the Interim Period. Visit our events calendar for periodic volunteer work parties.
Public Planning Process and Timeline
This website will be updated periodically as new information, documents and timelines become available. The following timeline provides a general overview of current planning. For additional provisional project details, click here.
Tom and all, you can learn more at Thursday’s Special Land Bank Commission meeting, starting at 8:30am. You can participate online via MS Teams, in person or by phone. Public comments begin at 10am. You can also review the July 15 LBC meeting recording to get up to speed. In addition, I just posted more background on the situation on Orcasonian at https://theorcasonian.com/special-land-bank-commission-meeting-agenda/ where you’ll find meeting details and link to agenda packet.
Thank you, Janet for posting your content. Much appreciated!
I appreciate the clarity and information on this. Looking forward to a tour!