by Leslie Kelly

Special to the Sounder

**Correction: It was originally stated in the article that the parcel of land on the corner of North Beach Road and Mt. Baker Road is zoned agricultural and “Village Residential.” This was not correct, the zones are actually Service Light Industrial and Eastsound Residential – 4. We apologize for the error. The article below has been corrected.**

An opportunity to create a permanent off-leash dog park near Buck Park has raised concerns about what will become of the property where the current temporary dog park is.

Some residents of Orcas Island fear that the intersection of Mt. Baker and North Beach roads will become commercialized when the dog park leaves. And that will harm the “village kind of feel” to the intersection.

“The real concern is that the county is getting ready to make a change to how that corner is zoned,” said Rick Christmas, a resident who also owns property at the corner. “If it goes light industrial, which is being proposed, then services like auto parts stores and fast food restaurants could go in there. And then, that will be the first thing people will see when they come in from the airport.”

The property in question is owned by the Port of Orcas and is adjacent to the airport. It currently has “split” zoning according to San Juan County Councilman Rick Hughes who represents the area. Part of it is zoned Service Light Industrial and part is zoned Eastsound Residential – 4 units per acre.

“The policy is to not have split zoning in the county any longer,” Hughes said, pointing out that the council has the option of changing zoning now, or waiting until it addresses an update of the Growth Management Act in the next two years.

Just why the dog park is moving is complicated, too. Its current location was only meant to be a temporary, until a better permanent location could be found.

Tony Simpson, Port manager, said that while the port has always been open to hosting the dog park, it is not a use that is allowed on airport property. Because the airport receives about $150,000 in funding from the Federal Aviation Administration, that funding could be in jeopardy if the off-leash dog area remains where it is.

“It’s something that is mentioned every time we have an inspection,” Simpson said. “This land was purchased with FAA funds and it is stipulated that there be no permanent recreational areas on it.”

While the current lease for the dog park doesn’t end until May 2017, the port has a 60-day clause by which it could ask the dog park to leave, should the FAA become more strict about the use of the land.

“The big picture is that we have no intentions of taking action,” Simpson said. “We like having it there. But the FAA could come in and tell us that it has to go.”

Additionally, a group of islanders have been using a smaller portion of the parcel for a pea patch garden, Simpson said. While that is a noncompliant use, it is smaller in size and not visible to the FAA. He said there is no lease, it’s just an ad-hoc community group that has been using it and paying the port for water.

“A pea patch is less of a problem because it is not considered a park,” he said. “But, ultimately, it doesn’t conform to the FAA uses and it could have to leave, also.”

Plans have been announced for a new off-leash dog park in the northeast corner of Buck Park, near the island’s skate park. Last weekend, schematic drawings were on display during an open house and holiday pet photos event. Orcas Park and Rec is seeking public comments and the draft plans can be viewed at www.orcasparkandrec.org/?p=2206.

Jeff Hanson, a volunteer with the Orcas Off-Leash Area, said the two-acre parcel where the new dog park may be located was offered for use by the San Juan Land Bank. A park levy increase will face voters in 2016 and if it passes, $3,000 to $4,000 of it will be used to build and maintain the dog park. A provisional use permit will need to be approved by the county first.

Meanwhile, Christmas and others still worry about what will become of the intersection of Mt. Baker and North Beach roads.

“It was only because I know someone on the EPRC (Eastsound Planning and Review Committee) that I became aware of all of this,” Christmas said. “I just don’t think the general population of Orcas knows this is going on. This is the most important corner we have and I don’t want to see it lose it’s beauty.”

Currently, at the intersection, one corner is open land. That is the corner Christmas owns and he has a home just beyond the open land. Another corner is the port property and the other two are churches, which is an allowed use under “village residential.”

The final decision about any change of zoning on the corner will be made by the San Juan County Council. A public hearing is set for 10:15 a.m. on Dec. 8 at the Eastsound Fire Station to hear comments about changes to the subarea plan which will include zoning changes at the corner.

Prior to that, on Dec. 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. Councilman Hughes plans to give a presentation of the subarea plan. Only written comments will be taken at that meeting.

As for changing the zoning on the port property, Hughes said he is neutral.

“Right now I don’t have an opinion on that,” he said. “The thought is that any change would affect the rural character of that corner. I’m open to listening to the public’s thoughts on this.”

Christmas wants that, too.

“I just want people to know that this is going on and for them to get their say,” he said. “I want to make sure that we’re maintaining our little village kind of feel.”