Madrona Institute’s Compass project urges county to use islander input in comp plan update

Faith Vandeput, speaking for the Madrona Institute and the Climate Compass Project, urged the San Juan County Planning Commission on July 18 to use the project’s outreach results in the county’s comprehensive plan update. "When residents are given accessible tools and relevant information and structured spaces for conversation, they offer deeply meaningful and actionable input," Vandeput said.

The Compass project, a Madrona Institute effort conducted in partnership with Friends of the San Juans and supported by a now-completed Department of Commerce grant, convened residents from Lopez, Orcas, San Juan and Shaw islands. Vandeput told commissioners the outreach engaged 254 islanders, produced 120 comment letters and generated 945 ideas that were compiled into interim reports and are being finalized in a forthcoming final report.

Why it matters: The Planning Commission is reviewing the periodic comprehensive plan update and several map amendments that will shape land-use, climate and infrastructure policy across the county. Community-generated recommendations could influence the county’s climate element and a future climate action plan, Vandeput said.

Vandeput offered to present the final Compass findings at a future meeting and noted the project included island-by-island, Spanish-language and youth sessions so the county can examine demographic differences in priorities. "Participants valued the opportunity to share their observations, concerns, and ideas and expressed a strong desire for their voices to directly shape county policy," she said.

The commission chair accepted the offer and the project’s final report will be filed with county staff ahead of later plan deliberations. No formal action was taken during the July 18 meeting on the Compass material; Vandeput’s remarks were part of the public access time.