The long-standing, and often contentious, tug-of-war over the Eastsound urban growth area appears to be near an end.

On Feb. 2, the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board handed down a 40-page ruling which, according to San Juan County deputy prosecutor Jon Cain, clearly indicates that the UGA is a “fraction away” from being approved. The last remaining hurdle, according to Cain, who last week gave the County Council an overview of Hearings Board decision, will be to strike several proposed sewer lines, which extend outside the growth area, from planning documents that are the foundation of the UGA.

With exception of those sewer lines, Cain said the Hearings Board ruled in favor of the county on all six issues which were under contention at a “compliance” hearing in October. The county had to demonstrate that the size of the UGA is appropriate, that plans and financing are in place for urban levels of sewer and water service, and for management of stormwater runoff, and that enough land would be available to satisfy future residential, commercial and institutional needs. The biggest issue for the board, Cain said, was in determining whether a revised land-supply analysis submitted by the county was accurate.

“At the end of the day, the board decided the county has shown its work and that there’s enough land available,” he said.

At the October hearing, objections were raised by three islanders targeting various issues of the UGA. Those objections, with exception of the sewer lines, were dismissed by the board. Its ruling can be contested in Superior Court.

In regard to the sewer lines, Cain said they are part of Eastsound Water and Sewer District’s future plans, but, according to the hearings board, the county can either adopt all or part of the sewer district plan for the UGA. The county has until mid-August to “fix” the UGA sewer service plan.

“The sewer district did a good deal of work updating it’s plan, which was vital,” Cain said.