Submitted by San Juan County
At 9 a.m., July 20, there will be a joint San Juan County Planning Commission and County Council public hearing and special meeting. The public hearing will be regarding a proposed amendment to the political sign code. The San Juan County Planning Commission and County Council will also be briefed by staff regarding the Growth Management Hearings Board order related to the Shoreline Master Program, and proposed methodologies for forecasting housing, and seasonal population.
Sign code
Information on the proposed political sign code amendment can be found at www.sanjuanco.com/1460/Political-Sign-Code-Amendment. This change is needed to comply with San Juan County Superior Court Judge Katie Loring’s order on Monday, May 21, 2018 for Case No. 18-2-0507528. The Court held that the conditions of the political sign exemption in SJCC 18.40.400(C) are likely contrary to law and entered an order preventing the county from enforcing them. Existing county policy is to not enforce the time limits on political signs. County code will be made consistent with county policy and the court order by amending SJCC 18.40.400(C) as proposed above. Public comments on the proposed sign code amendments can be sent to Adam Zack, Planner II, at adamz@sanjuanco.com.
Comprehensive plan
SMP
On June 13, 2018, the GMHB issued its final decision and order in Case No. 17-2-0009 (FDO, Page 35). The GMHB did not find the adoption of the county’s updated SMP invalid although several areas of the SMP were found non-compliant. The planning commission and the county council will be briefed on the details of the GMHB decision. Details of the findings can be found in the staff report dated July 2, 2018, at www.sanjuanco.com/1505/SMP-Appeals. Public comments on the SMP staff report can be sent to Linda Kuller, Planning Manager, at lindak@sanjuanco.com.
Housing
A draft housing needs assessment was issued in August 2017. The planning commission and county council were briefed on a second draft in October 2017. At that time, staff was requested to refine the housing unit forecast analysis for 2036. The planning commission and county council will be briefed on two proposed methodologies for the housing unit forecast, outlined in the staff report dated July 5, 2018. The staff report outlining the proposed housing forecast methodologies is under the ‘housing’ tab at www.sanjuanco.com/1306/Comprehensive-Plan-Elements.
Population
In addition to projecting the future year-round population, the staff has been asked to project the possible seasonal population for planning purposes. The seasonal population projection will be added to the population forecast for the San Juan County Comprehensive Plan. The seasonal population forecast is discussed in the staff report dated July 6, 2018 at www.sanjuanco.com/1306/Comprehensive-Plan-Elements.
The public is encouraged to provide comment on these topics. Public comments on the housing and seasonal population forecasts can be sent to compplancomments@sanjuanco.com. Make sure to reference the page number from the staff report you are commenting on.
