This fall, County staff and officials, including the County’s new Director of Community Development, will attend land-use committee meetings on Lopez and Orcas Islands to engage with the public, receive feedback, and answer questions.
New DCD Director Visits Lopez and Orcas
Sev Jones is serving as the County’s new Director of Community Development and will be attending the Lopez Village Plan Review Committee meeting on October 28 alongside Councilmember Jane Fuller and the Eastsound Planning Review Committee meeting on November 6 alongside Councilmember Justin Paulsen. These meetings will be an opportunity to get to know Jones and share feedback with the planning department.
Jones comes to the islands with a wealth of experience in planning, having served as the Director of Planning & Public Works for the Kalispel Tribe in eastern WA, the Planning Director for the Matanuska Susitna Borough in Alaska, and as a City Planner for both Kirkland WA and Boise ID. Sev also taught Urban Planning courses as an adjunct professor at Boise State University.
About the Lopez Village Plan Review Committee
The Lopez Village Planning Review Committee will hold its next meeting on October 28, 2025 from 3:30-5pm at the Lopez Island Library. The meeting is in-person and online. Access the agenda here: https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/370/Lopez-Village-Planning-Review-Committee
The committee consists of five members—all residents of Lopez Island appointed by the County Council for terms of three years each. This group assists the community in developing a subarea plan for the Lopez Village Urban Growth Area. The committee's purpose is to advise the staff, the Planning Commission, and the County Council on the development of the Lopez Village Subarea Plan and the necessary regulations and standards for its implementation.
The committee's work includes considering matters such as lighting, landscaping, parking, bicycle and pedestrian access, building standards, wireless communication facilities, stormwater management, density, views, and aesthetics. This committee's role is to ensure that the development of the Lopez Village is consistent with the San Juan County Comprehensive Plan and supports the county's planning policies and development regulations.
About the Eastsound Planning Review Committee
The Eastsound Planning Review Committee will hold its next meeting on November 6, 2025, from 3:00-5:00 pm at the Orcas Senior Center and online Access the agenda here: https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/657/Eastsound-Planning-Review-Committee.
The committee consists of seven members—all residents of Orcas Island—appointed by the County Council for two-year terms each. This group advises the Planning Department, Planning Commission, and County Council on land use and development matters affecting Eastsound.
The committee reviews and provides input on planning and development proposals. The EPRC ensures that community needs and perspectives are represented in local decisions and actively participates in discussions to shape Eastsound's future.