San Juan County boards set agendas on housing, ferries, land bank budget; outcomes not yet recorded
San Juan County's advisory boards and councils held a packed two weeks of meetings from July 8 through July 17, but because minutes have not yet been published for any of the sessions, only the scheduled agendas are on the record. The most consequential items on the agendas touched affordable housing, ferry planning, and the Conservation Land Bank's amended 2026 budget.
Lee's Landing affordable housing in focus
The County Council's July 14 agenda included a discussion and potential action item on the Lee's Landing Affordable Housing Project (formerly the Argyle Project) homeownership concept. The same project appeared on the Housing Advisory Committee's July 8 agenda, along with a Home Fund budget update, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, a homeownership covenant language issue, and an Affordable Housing Community Survey. The council agenda also listed discussion of 2026 docket recommendations, revenue options, an updated courthouse security plan, and an executive session regarding litigation or potential litigation.
Ferry system long-range plan and terminal closures
The Ferry Advisory Committee's July 8 agenda called for beginning a process to request Washington State Ferries to update its Long Range Plan. Members were scheduled to review the Priority Tracking Sheet and the 2026 FAC workplan and receive terminal updates for Lopez, Orcas, Shaw, and San Juan. A WSF update was listed as presented by Tally Teal, and a council liaison update was listed from Kari McVeigh. Separately, the County Council's July 13 work session agenda included discussion of Washington State Ferries 2027 terminal closures for Vehicle Transfer Span updates, alongside initial 2027 legislative session planning with Columbia Policy Advisors and a Department of Community Development update on land use tables.
Land Bank to consider 2026 amended budget, Talking Horse Farm acquisition
The Conservation Land Bank Commission's July 17 agenda included a public hearing on the proposed 2026 2nd Amended Budget and an action to consider its adoption. The agenda also listed approval of April 17, 2026 minutes, a director's report on the county current budget through the Agricultural Resources Committee, an acquisition discussion of Talking Horse Farm on San Juan Island, and a stewardship report on the Beaverton Trail.
Budgets, fees, and facility funding
Several bodies had budget-related items on their agendas. The San Juan Island Library Board of Trustees scheduled a July 14 public hearing on 2026 budget amendments and consideration of Resolution #1-2026 to amend the budget, plus discussion of a road map for a new library and a staff survey. The Board of Health's July 15 agenda included a budget update from the Director of Health and Community Services and a presentation on the Environmental Fee Revision Process, with a Health Officer Update listed from Dr. Amy Harley. The Public Facilities Financing Assistance Program committee met July 15 to approve a scorecard format and score applicants, a process that determines how funding is allocated for public facility projects. The Human Services Advisory Board's July 13 agenda included a county budget update and discussion of a WSDOT guest for a September or October event.
Planning, weeds, and fairgrounds
The Planning Commission's July 17 agenda listed staff recommendations on 2026 Annual Docket Text Amendment Requests and Comprehensive Plan Official Map Amendment Requests. The Noxious Weed Control Board's July 10 agenda included a decision on future meeting frequency (monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly) and discussion of fleet services for 2027. The Fair Board's July 10 agenda included horse arena scheduling and events presented by Jennifer Rigg, a staffing update, super lunches, and updates on fairgrounds events and the grandstand.
Coming up
The Hearing Examiner has scheduled public hearings for July 22 on four items: a Shoreline Conditional Use Permit for flood-hazard reduction at 188 Marine Drive on Blakely Island (File LANDUSE-26-0062); an appeal by After Hunts Point LLC seeking an exemption from a shoreline substantial development permit at 717 Afterglow Drive on San Juan Island (File APPEAL-26-0010); a final plat alteration of Lots 27–31, 33–38, and 48–55 in Pavey's Parkside Addition north of Midway Road on Shaw Island (File LANDUSE-26-0030); and an appeal by New RH LLC of an administrative determination on a Simple Land Use application (File APPEAL-26-0009). The hearing for File LANDUSE-26-0055 has been postponed to August 26, 2026.