SAN JUAN ISLAND, Wash. — The hearing examiner took public testimony Wednesday on a distinct Harbor Propane conditional use permit application for a bulk propane storage and outdoor storage yard on San Juan Island (Salt Spring Drive / West Valley Road area). County staff found that the proposal met code standards for a conditional use permit and recommended approval with conditions.

Jeff Morgan summarized the site plan: two 18,000‑gallon tanks inside a fenced compound, two bobtail delivery trucks, two storage containers and small office buildings. He said SEPA review had been completed and the project had been properly noticed.

Applicant counsel (Miss Shaw) reiterated the points from the earlier Orcas hearing: the project is required to meet the liquefied petroleum gas code and NFPA 58 safety standards and asked that a suggested condition requiring a spill response plan be removed because of the physical properties of propane and existing code requirements. Morgan said the staff report included a spill‑prevention / code‑compliance condition and that the county would fold safety measures into a condition requiring compliance with applicable state and federal standards where appropriate.

Staff and the applicant noted the permit filings were prompted by prior code enforcement; the county has allowed Harbor Propane to continue operations while the permits are processed because propane is an essential service on the islands. There were no oral public comments at the hearing; Morgan confirmed no written comments had been received up to the time the staff report was prepared.

The county will accept a corrected staff report page (to fix a typographical reference) and the examiner will take the record under advisement and issue a written decision.

No votes were taken at the hearing; staff and applicant agreed to finalize language on safety‑related conditions for the record.