Lopez to rethink urban growth

About 100 Lopez residents not only voiced their opposition to a decision by the San Juan County Commission on Aug. 7 to approve a 14-unit development known as the Blue Heron Estates, they also indicated that such a development must never happen again in Lopez Village.

Commissioners John Evans and Darcie Nielsen approved the permit application by Brian Westlund; Rhea Miller voted no.

Nielsen said the application was approved because it met all county guidelines, including the higher densities set in Lopez Village’s Urban Growth Area.

Miller, a Lopez resident, said she had serious doubts about the ability of the natural environment, particularly the water supply, to support 14 additional lots.

The commissioners’ vote prompted a community meeting at Lopez Center Aug. 10. "There was a fair amount of venting,” said Pat Mann, San Juan County long-range planner.

But residents did a lot more than vent their anger. They discussed whether Lopez Village’s UGA should be eliminated entirely, or whether its boundaries should be reduced. They also discussed the impact of their proposals on future affordable housing on Lopez Island.

Prior to concluding the meeting, community members created three committees, each dealing with one of the above-mentioned concerns.

School board member Jim Smith is convening the group that will consider the feasibility of eliminating Lopez Village’s UGA. Smith contends that islanders want the village to maintain its rural ambiance. He believes Lopez can come up with an acceptable strategy modeled on Skagit County’s comprehensive plan which established eight rural villages.

“We think the same thing applies here,” he said. If Lopez Village remains a UGA, Smith said, “It will jump-start growth and in the most sensitive area, the Fisherman Bay Basin.”

Others, however, felt that such a step would be too drastic. Reduce the size and change the boundaries, suggested retired professor Richard Fagen, a member of the group looking at affordable housing. Fagen feels that certain areas of Lopez Village lack the infrastructure to accommodate the densities of an urban growth area, but he also feels that eliminating a UGA entirely would be unacceptable.

Fagen's position is endorsed by Commissioner Miller.

Rip Van Camp, who is convening the committee dealing with urban growth boundaries, said Lopez needs to get beyond the emotionalism of the Westlund case and come up with a thoughtful plan for the village. He is asking Mann to point out the implications of changing the boundaries or reducing the size of the UGA. Mann said reviewing each UGA boundary line will get “pretty complicated.”

The three committees will state their findings at a community meeting Aug. 29, 6 p.m., in Lopez Center.

It remains to be seen if community members will be able to reach consensus. Fagen, meanwhile, worries about how Mann will respond to the community’s recommendation. “I hope it won’t be rejected by the planning department,” he said.

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