ORCAS ISLAND, Wash. — San Juan County staff told the hearing examiner Wednesday it recommends approval of a conditional use permit for a new Harbor Propane bulk propane storage and outdoor maintenance area on Orcas Island with two large tanks and an equipment container.

Jeff Morgan, contract planner with David Evans and Associates, summarized the application and staff analysis. He said the proposal includes one 18,000‑gallon tank and one 20,000‑gallon tank, an 8‑by‑20‑foot storage container for parts and maintenance items, and use of two bobtail delivery trucks for customer deliveries. "We are recommending approval today, subject to conditions," Morgan said.

The applicant team — represented by counsel (Miss Shaw) and owner Bob Rotenberg — asked staff to correct typographical errors in the report and to remove a recommended condition requiring a "spill response plan." Counsel argued propane is stored and used as a compressed gas and "it doesn't spill," noting liquefied propane requires temperatures near -44°F. The owner described operator controls and training for drivers and technicians: "All of our drivers and technicians have appropriate training for all the use of the equipment that we have, including the bulk tanks," he told the examiner.

Staff said the reference to a hangar on page 12 of the staff report was a copy‑and‑paste error and agreed to edit the report by the agreed deadline (close of business Friday). On the spill‑plan condition staff indicated it could consolidate safety obligations under a condition requiring compliance with applicable state and federal standards and the liquefied petroleum gas code and NFPA 58; Morgan said the county would reflect or clarify that in a revised staff recommendation.

No members of the public provided oral comments at the hearing and Morgan confirmed the county had not received written comments as of close of business the day before the hearing. County staff and the applicant also noted that the two pending permits in the morning session were the result of prior code enforcement actions and that Harbor Propane has been allowed to continue operations while the permit processes proceed.

The examiner closed the oral record for the Orcas Island matter and said he will take the record under advisement and issue a written decision.

The hearing record contains the staff report, application materials, and a representation from the applicant that operator training and NFPA/code compliance will govern operation if the permit is issued.