News Release 2001-7
April 12, 2001
Growth Board Clarifies Guest House Moratorium
On April 6, 2001, the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board notified the County that the ban on new guest house construction does not prevent property owners who have already built a guest house or have obtained a vested permit to build a guest house from proceeding with the construction of a main residence. The Growth Board emphasized that the property owner's guest house must meet the current County requirements for guest houses.
The Growth Board's decision was in response to a request for clarification by the County regarding an earlier Growth Board decision. On November 30, 2000, the Board issued an order banning new guest house construction in the rural and resource lands of San Juan County, stating that the County had not adequately analyzed the effects of new guest house construction in these areas. Because the County was unclear as to whether this moratorium applied to property owners who had already built their guest house and now wanted to build their main residence, it asked the Growth Board to clarify the order.
The Growth Board accepted written evidence from affected property owners and held a hearing on the request for clarification on March 6, 2001. Over 35 property owners who were potentially adversely impacted by the moratorium participated. At the hearing, San Juan County Prosecutor Randall K. Gaylord urged the Growth Board to interpret the moratorium in a way that allowed property owners with guest houses to proceed with the construction of their main residences.
The Growth Board's clarification does not affect the County's appeal of the guest house moratorium to Thurston County Superior Court. A hearing on the appeal is scheduled for June 1, 2001 in Olympia.
Randall K. Gaylord
San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney
96 Second Street, 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 760
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360/378-4101