SAN JUAN ISLAND, Wash. — A proposed indoor/outdoor pickleball center with an associated restaurant and lounge — the "Salty Paddle" — generated broad public support at a San Juan County hearing Wednesday and raised procedural and intergovernmental questions from the Town of Friday Harbor.

Taylor Miller, a consultant planner, told the hearing examiner that staff reviewed the conditional use permit application for Lots 2 and 3 of the Buena Vista short plat and recommended approval with conditions. Miller said the county received 18 public comments before the staff report and 17 more after the report was published; "Staff recommends approval with conditions as detailed in the staff report," she said on the record.

Applicant Andrew Fleming described the project as a mixed indoor entertainment and outdoor recreation facility with a restaurant and lounge and asked the examiner to clarify two permit conditions in particular. Fleming requested that a condition in the draft decision limiting hours (a provision in the county's recreational facility standards) apply to the outdoor recreation elements only, not to indoor entertainment courts, saying many players use indoor courts early in the morning: "Facilities like this typically open at maybe 6 or 7 so that folks can play before work," Fleming said. He also asked that language about water and septic be aligned with the county and state code so that occupancy is not interpreted to be blocked before building permits are issued or before water availability is finally approved; Fleming described ongoing work with the Seabreeze water system to extend service into the site area.

Public support at the hearing was strong. Eighteen speakers filed written support and multiple people spoke in the hearing room, including Stephanie Buffum, who said the county urgently needs additional courts and suggested a phased approach if infrastructure (water/septic) takes longer to secure. Several speakers described the project as a community gathering point and said indoor courts would provide year‑round access for players and for social activity.

Ryan Erickson, community director for the Town of Friday Harbor, spoke for the town and requested additional review. He said the town had not been notified under the joint planning policies that require notice for developments within 1,000 feet of the town boundary and asked the county to treat the project as high‑impact because the project footprint and anticipated trips could exceed thresholds that trigger higher review. Erickson also asked for a traffic analysis and raised fire‑protection concerns related to water/hydrant availability. He told the examiner he would submit written comments.

The hearing examiner continued the matter for further process. Because of a SEPA notice reissue the record will remain open; Miller noted the SEPA comment period closes June 4 and that any SEPA appeals would be consolidated with the CUP proceeding. The examiner directed staff and the applicant to try to work out agreed condition language and set deadlines for supplemental materials: staff and applicant should exchange proposed edits and staff will publish any revised materials in the administrative record; edited/rebuttal materials are due for inclusion in the June hearing packet. The examiner set a continued hearing date in late June (June 25) and an additional online session to consider any SEPA appeals and outstanding matters on June 27 at 10:00 a.m.; he instructed staff to re‑post notice and to keep the on‑site public notices in place until the continued hearing date.

The record is open for additional written comments and staff committed to respond to written materials filed by the town. The examiner said he will take the record under advisement and reopen the matter on the continued dates as needed.