Gone, not forgotten San Juan Island pays tribute to the fallen heroes of 9/11
www.sanjuanjournal.com
Island Scene
Heritage, history take center stage; festival features kids activities too page 13
Guest Column
Sound of war drums over Syria is all too familiar; will politicians make another reckless, illegal decision? page 7
Journal
The 75¢ Wednesday, September 11, 2013 Vol. 106 Issue 37
of the San Juan Islands
www.sanjuanjournal.com
Quota ‘Hall of Fame’ game of pot shops… three
Scholars shine in summer school
State says Lopez, Orcas, San Juan each can have one
Journal staff report
By Steve Wehrly Journal reporter
Three marijuana retail stores will be permitted in San Juan County, one each on Orcas, San Juan and Lopez islands, under regulations proposed Sept. 4 by the Washington State Liquor Control Board to implement Initiative 502, which legalizes marijuana production, processing and retailing. San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney Randall Gaylord said, “I think it is appropriate to make a limit of one retail store for the three major ferry served islands.” The regulations are being proposed under provisions of I-502, approved in November by 54 percent of the state’s voters. San Juan County had the largest margin of county approval in the state, 68 percent; Waldron Island apparently had the largest precinct approval in the state, 85 percent. The proposed regulations are required to be in effect by Dec. 1, but the liquor board has not announced when marijuana stores can begin operations. The regulations can be found at lcb.app.box. com/proposed-rules-9-4-13. The LCB proposes licensing 334 retail locations in the state, allocated on the basis of population per county and with some allow-
Journal photo / Scott Rasmussen
Former football star Trent Roberts displays the Wolverines “Hall of Fame” plaque. Roberts, joined by event organizer Jenny Ledford, was one 13 former players inducted into the Hall at halftime of the Wolverines Sept. 6 season opener.
County fees going… down?
Cost to contest a building code decision will drop 400 percent By Steve Wehrly Journal reporter
Major reductions in three San Juan County building and land use fees are on the Sept. 10 county council public hearing and action agenda. The building permit code determination appeal fee and the administrative determination appeal fee are being reduced from $2,300 to $600; the open space current-use assessment reduction application fee is being cut in half, from $4,060 to $2,030. The code and administrative determination fees are assessed against a property owner or an intervenor who appeals a determination by the county’s Department of Community Development and Planning that a permit should or should not be issued.
The appeals are heard by the county hearings examiner. The appeal fee reductions are accompanied by a new provision, required by a recent court case, that removes all fees for appeals of a notice of violation, stop work order, or suspension or revocation of a permit. Under current law, if the property owner or intervenor prevails, the appeal fees are refunded. The current-use assessment reduction application fee is charged when a property owner applies to the county for an open space property tax assessment based on “current use” valuation rather that the standard “highest and best use” that normally applies. Both the current use and the similar designated forest land programs were started 30 years ago in accordance with state laws intended to encourage property owners to keep property undeveloped or in use as a farm or as timberland. According to county Assessor Charles See Fees, Page 3
See Three, Page 4
2011 Special Award; Second Place: General Excellence from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association
And what did you do with your summer? As recipients of scholarships from John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, four Friday Harbor middle and high school students spent theirs taking advanced coursework at Seattle University. Madeline Schroeder, now a junior, studied international politics, while freshman Hayden Mayer, playing goalie on the high school soccer team, immersed herself in a course called “The See scholars, Page 5
Fall 2013
• Sports
Preview
Fall Sports Preview
Let the games begin; inside you’ll find stories, schedules, team photos, and more of Friday Harbor fall sports.