Twenty-two years after the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved planning under the Growth Management Act in November 1990, San Juan County's Comprehensive Plan is compliant with the GMA.
Adoption of the Critical Areas Ordinance resulted in an official notification that the milestone had been reached. A letter sent February 5 to county Council Chair Jamie Stephens from State Department of Commerce Growth Management Services Managing Director Leonard Bauer AICP states:
"Your community has reviewed its comprehensive plan and development regulations to ensure the community is growing as envisioned and to bring the plan up to date with the latest laws and regulations. This update will also guide growth consistent with your community's vision of the future. We recognize the substantial investment of time, energy and resources that these documents represent and we congratulate you for completing this process.
"Congratulations to you, your planning commission, staff, and involved citizens for the good work represented by your update."
While it took the county more than two decades to become compliant with the GMA, the county wasted no time voluntarily agreeing to plan under the GMA guidelines. The Act was approved in April 1990 and the county Commissioners - Bruce Orchid, Tom Cowan, Doug Corliss - signed the county up to plan under the GMA guidelines seven months later.
About INKLE
Jim has had several careers, all connected with writing. He has been a technical writer in the rocket industry, a college English prof, and most recently a freelance editor with the Northwest Editors Guild. jimmc@sanjuanislander.com
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