By Anna Haefele

Special to the Weekly

The Islander Resort’s proposed expansion is sparking debate and mixed opinions among Lopez Island residents.

Lopez resident Megan McCoy says, “I don’t know too much about the proposed expansion, just possible rumors.”

Reports circulating include the Islander buying up plots of land in a bid to prepare for even greater expansion in the near future.

Bill Diller, the resort’s owner said he is simply trying to run his business.

“Economically, [the resort] needs a few more things to make it operate well,” says Diller. “We’re trying to utilize the property.”

The proposal includes the addition of 15 new campsites, 10 RV sites, two new motel buildings, and a maintenance building.

Other islanders like the Normandy Lane homeowners are concerned with the potential effects of the expansion on their lifestyle, views, and home values. Noise and air pollution in the area due to an increased number of guests and their vehicles are also topics of worry. On April 23, Normandy Lane homeowners filed an appeal of the Islander Resort’s State Environmental Policy Act Mitigated Determination of Non-significance. This is the second appeal submitted by the resort’s neighbors.

Currently, decisions regarding the appeal are in suspended animation, pending a hearing.

Julie Thompson with San Juan County Community Development and Planning said “…the Normandy Lane homeowners’ appeal decision has not been made, so no, it wasn’t denied, but it also wasn’t approved. The applicants’ are having a traffic study prepared which has further delayed holding the hearing.”

While no date has been set for a hearing, until a decision is made regarding the appeal, the majority of the expansion cannot proceed. However, construction for one of the proposed hotel buildings, a seven-unit structure, is already approved and set to commence this month.

Groups like Friends of the San Juans are confident that the resort and the community can come to an understanding.

One Friends representative Breanne Vander Naald said “Friends believes that an expanded Lopez Islander could contribute positively to San Juan County rather than introducing problems. To do that, the resort will need to evaluate and address concerns that the County and neighbors have raised about adequate sewage disposal and sustainable drinking water facilities, as well as potential storm water increases and unnecessary building close to Fisherman Bay’s sensitive waters.”

Diller is also positive. He said he has worked with surrounding property owners, voluntarily agreeing to add landscaping features and a privacy fence intended to shield neighbors from the unwanted effects of living by a resort.

“If I wanted, I could raze the whole property and build waterfront condos and make a lot more money than I’m making now,” says Diller “but what we’re adding is meant to be a balance.”

Diller said the changes will soften the look of the place, improve street appeal and lend a neater appearance to their section of Fisherman Bay waterfront, as well as improve safety by minimizing foot traffic across that section of Fisherman Bay Road.

As construction progresses, natural beauty will also be preserved to the greatest extent possible.

“I like the trees. If a road has to move to go around the trees, that’s what we’re going to do,” said Diller.