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If you would like to support the work of Common Sense Alliance (501(c)(3) tax exempt, non-profit corporation), you can donate online using the form below, or by mailing a check.

 
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Tell a Neighbor About CSA

Welcome to the Common Sense Alliance (CSA)

The Common Sense Alliance is a grassroots organization formed by concerned citizens in 2009 to inform the community about San Juan County's proposed land use regulations affecting wetlands, streams, lakes, ponds, and shorelines.  The purpose of our website is to keep you informed.

The "Library" on this website which is located in the black bar at the top of this page will provide you with a list of addresses for contacting the County Council, the Planning Commission, the County Planning Staff, the Prosecuting Attorney(s), and the more common print and online papers on the major islands.

Additionally, the "Library" contains all of the CSA Comments on the proposed regulations and the Best Available Science; handouts from Forums and Town Hall Meetings; all Newsletters sent to our subscribers; and links to YouTube and other videos.  

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Read the CSA Newsletters

 All previous Common Sense Alliance Newsletters may be found in the "Library" located here on the tool bar or by clicking here.

 

San Juan County's Public Participation Plan

The County has a time line for the public participation plan of the Shoreline Master Program Update.  You can see it by clicking here on this link to the County's website.

 

Letter from John Evans

2/1/2012
Really?

After 20 plus years of participating in County government, starting a long time ago as Chairman of the Fair Board, then 12 years as a County Commissioner, and lately as a member of the Citizen Advisory Committee on the draft Critical Areas Ordinance, I didn't think there was much that could come out of the Friday Harbor Court House that would surprise me.

Guess what?   

The County Council, on a 5-1 vote, has preliminarily passed the Draft CAO General Section. Approval comes when the wetlands and wildlife sections of the CAO are finished in the next month or two. 

If you think that “Evans has finally lost his mind,” I invite you to go to the Common Sense Alliance web site which has a more detailed explanation of what this is all about. There is also a YouTube link to a video of the County Council testimony on the subject. In the General Section(.pdf 558\k file), the written material on stating the requirements is on pages 28 and 29. Beyond pages 28 and 29 the whole Ordinance should get folks attention.

Read more...
 

Letter from Peter Groves

2/2/2012

Dear CSA Folks:

I believe what we are witnessing what is called a "cognitive disconnect."  Patty Miller, et all are breezing along with no impression of what they are actually doing.  I believe that every one of those council persons voting for this nonsense will "break the rules" themselves in less then one year after this vote. They will have to, just to live a normal life. Their actions now belie this basic truth so I would call it a "cognitive disconnect."

The nonsense part is that just as with the guest house baloney, the County could never afford the herd of little Nazis to enforce this stuff.  Any over-lay that makes thousands of properties non-conforming is ridiculous on its face. Read more...
 

Marc Forlenza ~ Implications of Non-Conforming

12/21/2011

Sergeant Joe Friday vs. CAO “Facts”

 

Taking a stand on any issue seems to cause more divisiveness today than ever, whether it concerns politics, religion, economics or San Juan County’s own maelstrom over the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO).
Crucial in coming to a truly informed decision is knowing the facts.  Not Wikifacts, or half-baked facts, but good old-fashioned facts, as in Dragnet’s “only the facts, Ma’am.”  With this in mind, I read with interest David Dehlendorf’s recent letter to the editor where he recounts having contacted “Islanders Bank, Key Bank, Wells Fargo, Swandberg Judkins Insurance, Chicago Title, and the county’s assessor’s office. In all cases,” he said he was told, “that whether a property is legally conforming or non-conforming is not even considered in the decision to approve or deny an application for financing or insurance, nor in the process of writing the title on the property, or in assessing its value.”
Well, David’s words got me to thinking he had just dotted all the i’s and crossed all the t’s regarding some of the major concerns of property owners have  with the CAO.
Or had he?
Read more...
 

Letter from Paul LeBaron

2/3/2012

A response to Mr. Hobbs notion that nonconforming properties will be increasing in value

In a letter to the editor of the Editor last week three objections to some fundamental points were raised. The question was brought up why expanding the setbacks of the CAO would reduce property valuations. 

The first point should start with what we have and what could be proposed.  Currently we have a 50 foot shoreline setback for buildings if there is screened landscaping, and 100 ft if there is no screening.  The new setbacks have not been firmed up but they will be tied to what is agreed to for the upland portion which is being proposed at 150-300 feet. Let’s say you go out today and buy a million dollar house on a waterfront lot, and the lot is 149’ X 149’, the house burns down next year. In the mean time the new CAO is past and set backs have been moved to 150 feet.  Under the new CAO; your property would become nonconforming and unbuildable without a variance.  The county would still assess the value of the land, let you pay taxes and use it for picnics as long as no permanent structure was built. If a lot becomes unbuildable do you think its value will be reduced?

Read more...
 

BAS vs BS

 

 
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