growth management
In the past three decades, San Juan County's population growth rates were 103 percent, 28 percent, and 40 percent, for an average of 57 percent per decade. The 2000 census showed San Juan to be the second fastest growing Washington county, at a rate twice the State average. A year later, in 2001, the State's data showed that San Juan had outpaced every other county in population growth rate.
Even more startling is that these figures understate the County's real growth, since they count only permanent residents. A more telling measure is that of residential housing units: between 1990 and 2000, San Juan County's housing count soared by more than 60 percent, the fastest of any county, and three times the State average.
While the County's Comprehensive Plan provides some control over how growth may occur, it does little to limit the pace of growth or establish a ceiling. The pace of growth has actually accelerated relative to other counties since the Comp Plan's adoption. Click here to read San Juan County's Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Code.
FRIENDS' goal is not to stop growth. We recognize that the attractions of our beautiful islands and waters make growth inevitable. Rather, our intent is to conserve that beauty, and our quality of life, through more effective planning mechanisms that recognize both the costs of growth and the value of what we have. The objective of our Managing Growth Campaign is to identify ways in which this can be achieved in ways acceptable to our islands' residents.
FRIENDS will review and update Comprehensive Plan and the UDC (Uniform Development Code) to include any changes or additions to it that are necessary to meet Growth Management Act requirements, and any local concerns or changes that are deemed appropriate based on changes in the county; and ensure that hamlet plans are completed and implemented. FRIENDS staff will also work to compel San Juan County to improve management and monitoring of on-site septic systems, stormwater, agricultural runoff, forestry practices, solid waste and hazardous waste management, marinas, docks and barge landings and boating facilities.
FRIENDS' Growth Management Program has completed a report the on the impact of residential and commercial development on taxes. Please contact us if you have any questions about any of this report.
|
