Your input matters!
The Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) may sound technical, but it’s really about daily life in the islands. When you comment, you’re helping shape how our community grows while protecting your priorities and the places we all love and depend on.
Did you know? Friends of the San Juans helped launch San Juan County’s very first Comprehensive Land-Use Plan back in 1979, and we continue to bring a strong community and environmental voice to every update, including detailed comments and testimony during the current planning cycle.
Political philosopher Murray Bookchin pointed out that real power comes from community participation, not just leadership. Your comments on the Comprehensive Plan help ensure that vision here in the islands.
“If ‘Power to the people’ means nothing more than power to the ‘leaders’ of the people, then the people remain an undifferentiated, manipulatable mass ….”
– Murray Bookchin, Toward an Ecological Society, 1980
Comp Plan comments aren’t just for policy experts—they’re for everyone! Friends is here to help you share your voice and shape the islands’ future.
Comp Plan Questions?
Email us at [email protected]
From left to right: Magali Cota, Staff Attorney and Legal Director; Jess Newley, Community Science and Education Director; Elise Cope, Communications and Outreach Director; and Katherine Dietzman, Shoreline and Mapping Specialist.
What’s at Stake in the Current Comp Plan Update?
As you review the current Comp Plan’s update, consider:
- Shorelines & Ecosystems – Are beaches, nearshore waters, and forests protected for salmon, orcas, and future generations?
- Island Resources – Beyond development needs, will the Plan ensure long-term protection of the islands’ most critical resources: clean water, fertile soils, and natural open spaces?
- Community Resilience – Will it help island communities adapt to population growth, stronger storms, and rising water levels?
- Growth & Development – With rising pressure for new housing and utility infrastructure, will the Comprehensive Plan prioritize healthy ecosystems and island character, or allow growth that puts our shorelines, waters, and communities at risk?
- Agriculture & Food – Does it prioritize protecting farmland, supporting farmers, and strengthening food security so that local agriculture remains a vital part of island life?
- Quality of Life – Does the Plan support a high quality of life for everyone who calls the islands home, while also protecting the biodiversity that makes this place unique?
Why Comment on the Comp Plan Now?
The Growth Management Act requires counties to update their Comprehensive Plans to manage growth and protect resources. This update is especially important because, for the first time, the state now requires a climate element to be integrated throughout San Juan County’s plan.
Upcoming Opportunities to Comment
- Sept 19 – Planning Commission Public Hearing
- Oct 6 – County Council briefing (Plan text)
- Oct 20 – County Council briefing (maps)
- Nov 3 – Additional briefing (if needed)
- Nov 25 – County Council Comp Plan Update Hearing – final public input before adoption
- December 9 –Continue Hearing if needed. Adopt text and map amendments
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Note: Schedules can shift — check County calendars to confirm the above dates!
Quick Comment Guide
Want to make your voice heard? Here are the easiest ways:
1. Email your comments → [email protected] (cc: [email protected])
Deadline: by noon the day before a hearing.
2. Send a letter → San Juan County DCD, PO Box 947, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Must arrive one day before the hearing.
3. Speak at a hearing
- Planning Commission: online via meeting agenda link
- County Council: call +1 360-726-3293, Conference ID [confirm before publishing], or attend in person at 55 Second St., Friday Harbor
More Information
- Meeting agendas & materials: County Agendas & Minutes
- Comp Plan updates: County Engagement Hub
- County Comprehensive Plan Materials
- Questions? Email Friends of the San Juans: [email protected] (subject line: “Questions about County Comp Plan”)
Remember:
Every comment becomes part of the public record and helps shape the islands’ future.
