Submitted by San Juan County.
During last week’s Council meeting, staff from the Department of Community Development provided a summer progress update, following the April 2025, January 2025, October 2024 and July 2024 check-ins. DCD leadership provided an update in several key areas: recruitment efforts for open positions, permit review times and the status of long-term planning projects.
Recruitment
The County is pleased to announce that a director of community development has been hired and will begin Sept. 10. Sev Jones comes to San Juan County with experience in planning and public works at several municipalities and will support the department’s ongoing efforts to restore levels of service and earn community trust.
The department also hired a new fire marshal – Robert Salado – who will begin on Sept. 29. Recruitment is continuing for a second code enforcement officer position, and interviews are ongoing.
Building and permitting
County staff, along with a consultant team, report continued progress in addressing building and land use permits.
DCD received 370 building permits in the first half of 2025 and issued 413. Year to date (July 2024 – June 2025), the department has received 659 total building permits and issued 724 permits. These types of permits include commercial, accessory dwelling units, and solar and mechanical permits. There are approximately 159 pending building permits that require additional information from the applicant or have been routed for review. Permit review times vary by type and average between 15 days for mechanical/solar permits up to 200-plus days for Single Family Residential permits. Average permit review times are down from previous years, with staff continuing to work toward shorter timelines.
DCD received 75 land use permits in the first half of 2025 and issued 152 – more than double of what was received. Year to date (July 2024 – June 2025), the department has received 160 total land use permits and issued 252 permits. These types of permits include provisional use permits, ADU eligibility, shoreline exemptions and more. There are approximately 118 land use permits currently in process at various stages of review and may require additional applicant information, are routed for review or remain open.
“We’re issuing more permits than we’re receiving,” said Interim DCD Director Mark Tompkins, “which is what you want to be doing when you’re trying to get caught up.” Tompkins noted that the department still has work to do in order to improve overall service levels and that there remains room for improvement.
Long-range planning projects
DCD is responsible for more than just issuing permits. The department is currently working on a number of other large, long-range planning projects, including:
• The 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update. The department is working to complete the latest update by December. Public engagement opportunities are underway, and more information can be found on the project’s engage website: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/2025-comp-plan-update.
The update includes a new Climate Element. More information about that element is available at https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/climate-action.
• Critical Areas Ordinance. The department is working to update the CAO, with a completion goal of early 2026. A public participation plan has been developed, and staff have completed a Best Available Science review and gap analysis. The team is currently working to draft CAO code revisions based on the BAS and gap analysis. Learn more: https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/2319/2026-Critical-Areas-Ordinance-CAO-Update.
• Shoreline Master Program. The County used a grant from the Department of Ecology to update information related to the Shoreline Master Program. The team has developed and published a user guide for shoreline property owners, sent postcards to shoreline property owners and engaged the public via community meetings and surveys.
• Code revisions. The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office continues to lead efforts to clarify land use tables and revise redundant and contradictory language in the County code. This work is happening in coordination with the Critical Areas Ordinance work.
• New vacation rental applications. Vacation rentals are still under a moratorium until a new process is developed and approved by Council. In the meantime, staff are working to develop systems to systematically track and review permits for compliance.
• Docket process. The 2025 docket process held an application period from Jan. 1 through March 1. Staff will be compiling applications and proposed amendments for Council to review and potentially add to the DCD work plan. Currently, there are still 15 unaddressed requests from prior years.
