September 17: Public hearing on 3 variances for proposed project at 240 First St

View looking west

A continued public hearing for variances for a proposed three-story, eleven-unit mixed-use building (six transient, five residential) with 21 off-street parking stalls at 240 First St N. will be held during Friday Harbor Town Council’s September 17, 2026 12 noon hearing.

The site (Tax Parcels 351150001000 and 351150003000) are zoned CO. The site’s slope (25%-85%, approximately 35 feet of vertical relief) requires driveway grading that necessitates three variances under FHMC 17.84:

LUA2026-0014 (encroachment of a raised driving surface into the 10-foot View Protection Overlay side yard setback),
LUA2026-0015 (reduction of the Historic Preservation roof slope from 8:12 to 6.25:12),
LUA2026-0016 (reduction of the required perimeter planting area).

The variances are associated with Site Plan Review Permit LUA2025-0059 and SEPA review LUA2026-0024.

Friday Harbor Town Staff recommends approval of LUA2026-0014, LUA2026-0015, and LUA2026-0016, subject to the Recommended Conditions of Approval. The SEPA Responsible Official issued a Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance for LUA2026-0024, addressing the
archaeological and structural impacts identified during the comment period, prior to the public hearing on these applications.