The San Juan County Planning Commission on July 18 voted unanimously to recommend that the Department of Community Development add a docket request to its work plan asking the County Council to consider amending county code language about a Shaw Island standing committee.

The single docket application for 2025 requests changing an existing provision that reads "a standing committee of seven members shall be appointed by the Board of County Commissioners with members to serve staggered three-year terms" to substitute "may" for "shall," allowing the county flexibility to establish the committee when local circumstances permit. Colin Cooper, a planner assisting county staff, explained the change during a public hearing and said the request stems from Shaw’s small population and the difficulty of sustaining a required seven-member body.

Why it matters: Under the Growth Management Act the county must maintain an annual docket process for proposed comprehensive plan and map amendments; the commission’s action was only a recommendation to the County Council and did not enact a code change. The commission’s motion asked only that the Department of Community Development consider and process the proposal as part of its future workload.

Deliberations were brief. Commissioner Sarah said the change "sounds reasonable" while noting the subarea plan’s review mechanisms should remain in place. Commissioner Bill Banks moved to add the item to DCD’s workload; Peter seconded. The roll call recorded votes in favor from Bill Banks, Serena and the chair, and the motion passed unanimously. The County Council will receive the commission’s recommendation and decide whether to pursue an ordinance change.