ISLAND COUNTY: Commissioners delay changes to building moratorium
Jessie Stensland reports from the Island County Commissioners board meeting of Tue., June 3, 2025 for the Whidbey News-Times. Read the whole story.
A development moratorium in semi-urban areas of unincorporated Island County remains in effect, but changes are likely when commissioners consider a replacement moratorium next month.
As required by law, the commissioners held a public hearing Tuesday on an emergency moratorium on development in areas zoned as mixed-use Rural Areas of Intense Development, known as RAIDs. It impacts commercial areas of Clinton, Ken’s Korner, Bayview, Greenbank, Cornet Bay and Deception Pass. Areas on Camano Island are also on the list.
The commissioners had planned on adopting a replacement moratorium that allowed minor maintenance and emergency repairs to commercial properties, but they decided to put off the action until July 8 to give them time to consider community concerns and comments about the language. The commissioners are expected to discuss the issues further at an upcoming workshop meeting.
They Said It
The representatives from Ken’s Korner claimed that the lack of a grocery store in the space would create a “food desert” on South Whidbey and impact the quality of life.
Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon, however, pointed out in later comments that there are several other grocery stores on the South End. While she said there were three grocery stores as well as farm stands, there are actually four, including the Clinton Foodmart not far from Ken’s Korner.
South Whidbey resident Steve Myres said he was concerned about the vagueness of the term “minor maintenance.”
“I can see a lot of problem with using the language of ‘minor’ moving forward, creating a tremendous amount of confusion between the planning department, commissioners and the actual function of this moratorium,” he said.
Commissioner Jill Johnson explained that the areas are “mixed use” so they allow for both commercial and residential together. The hope is that zoning changes would result in more dense residential uses, such as taller buildings with apartments over businesses. New projects that don’t represent the highest and best use of the property in the midst of the planning would throw a wrench in the process, she said.
Johnson said the current moratorium allows “like for like” construction in the event that a house is destroyed in a fire or otherwise. The new moratorium may extend this to commercial buildings.
Bacon pointed out that the moratorium is focused on making sure the county doesn’t miss out on opportunities for residential growth. She questioned why it should prevent a commercial business from remodeling or a new type of business from moving into an existing space.
Ed. Note: Steven Myres was a candidate for Island County Commissioner in District 1 (Central and South Whidbey) in 2024.
