The Eastsound Plan Review Committee will be hosting an Open House at the Eastsound Fire Hall, 5-7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8. Learn about proposed changes to Eastsound and discuss capital facilities. The Eastsound Sewer District, Eastsound Water Users Association, San Juan County Public Works, Community Planning and Development, and the Port of Orcas will discuss their Capital Facilities Plans. Also, Council Member Gene Knapp will be available to talk about the county budget and the new storm water tax. Visitors will see maps of proposed road improvements, storm water plans and learn where the sewer district will be extending service. Colin Maycok, San Juan County Planner, will be available to discuss Eastsound zoning, and land use.

The County Commission is poised to rezone an Eastsound neighborhood to formalize rural densities there, and to extend for one year a moratorium on subdivisions around Country Corner.

The county Planning Commission last week recommended the actions to bring the neighborhoods’ zoning into compliance with state growth requirements.

The rezone would affect about 98 acres in the Los Arboles and Viewhaven subdivisions, encompassing 164 parcels currently zoned at 1-2 homes per acre density.

If the move is approved, the area would be zoned at a uniform density of one housing unit per five acres, consistent with the land use element of the San Juan County Comprehensive Plan.

While most of the parcels have already been built out, the seven parcels currently vacant would be allowed to develop at current density but no further subdivision would be allowed.

The current discrepancy dates to 2005, when Eastsound’s urban growth boundaries were changed to exclude those neighborhoods, but the zoning was overlooked.

“It’s mainly a housekeeping thing,” said Colin Maycock, senior planner with San Juan County Community Development and Planning.

The Country Corner area has been under a subdivision moratorium since 2004, which would be extended for a year while county officials initiate a long-range plan there.

The area under study includes about 140 acres now zoned at 2-12 units per acre, and a parcel zoned as a “service park” to allow various commercial and light industrial uses.

The moratorium extension would give planners and the public time to figure out what future uses to allow, and at what densities.

“Just from my very superficial knowledge of the area, I can’t imagine the zoning would change all that much,” Maycock said.

Public meetings to determine the neighborhood’s future should begin shortly into the new year, and could be concluded by June, Maycock said.

The zoning change and moratorium extension are expected to go before the County Council in January.