Guesthouse Documents Updated by Prosecutor
posted 10/19/04
PRESS RELEASE
Prosecutor Randall K. Gaylord announced today that guesthouse documents prepared by the County are easily available on the County’s website. The documents include recent submissions to the Court of Appeals, the Growth Management Hearings Board and the Washington Legislature. "Citizens interested in the guesthouse issue are encouraged to view this information," said Gaylord.
Also posted on the website are the letters sent to the Friends of the San Juans in settlement talks. "There has been a number of statements made about the position of the County. These letters will help those interested better understand the compromise the County accepted," added Gaylord.
"In addition, we have provided links to previous ordinances and studies on the guesthouse issue that have been on the County website since 2002," said Gaylord.
All of the above information is available at www.co.san-juan.wa.us/prosecutor. "Anyone who has further questions is encouraged to call me at 378-4101," added Gaylord.
GROWTH BOARD RETURNS TO ORCAS ISLAND
FOR GUEST HOUSE ISSUE
By Randall Gaylord, San Juan County Prosecutor
posted 10/19/04
Should an owner who has built a guest house be allowed to build a main house? That issue will be taken up by the Growth Management Hearings Board on Monday November 8, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. at the Orcas Island Fire Station in Eastsound.
County prosecutor Randall K. Gaylord says that this issue was decided by the Growth Board at the request of the County over three years ago on April 6, 2001. At that time, the Growth Board said that owners of a guest house could build a main house, but a detached guest house could not be built.
“It’s really a matter of fairness in the sequence in which a homeowner has chosen to construct their residence in reliance upon the County regulations,” said Gaylord. "At this point it’s also a matter of fairness of this Growth Board honoring the orders issued in 2001 by a different Board," said Gaylord
Gaylord pointed out that the April 6, 2001 Order was issued by Board Members William Nielsen and Les Eldridge, both of whom have retired. The current Growth Board members are Holly Gadbaw, a former councilmember of the city of Olympia, Margery Hite, a former attorney for Snohomish County, and Gayle Rothrock of Vancouver, Washington.
The issue was raised to the Growth Board by Maile Johnson, Lynn Bahrych and Joe Symons and the Friends of the San Juans. According to the challengers, the county has issued a policy statement that allows for the "backdoor method of continuing to allow double density," and that the county is performing a "magic trick."
In a response, the County argues that the Challengers altered e-mails to create a "San Juan County Policy Statement" where none existed. According to the County, it is simply relying upon the April 6, 2001 Order of the Growth Board which expressly allows the construction of a main house where a guest house has already been built.
Over sixty people were notified of the hearing. "There is no question about it. This was a hotly contested issue when it was considered in 2001." said Gaylord. "I am concerned that the Growth Board did not reject the challengers’ arguments summarily. Anyone who is concerned about this issue should make plans to submit a statement in writing and attend this hearing," he added.
A copy of the County’s submission to the Growth Management hearings board may be found at the prosecutor’s Web site, or by calling Toni Bailey at the San Juan County Prosecutor’s Office 360-378-4101.
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