SAN JUAN ISLAND, Wash. — San Juan County staff recommended approval Wednesday of a shoreline substantial development permit to replace and slightly reconfigure an existing dinghy dock used by Harry and Martha Dickinson at Westcott Bay.

The hearing examiner, Gary McLean, heard testimony from county planner Colin Maycock and the applicant team, represented by attorney Mimi Wagner and marine consultant Kim Middleton. Wagner said the work would replace a failing ramp-and-float connection and improve the dock’s tidal movement. "This is a very modest dock," Wagner told the examiner, and she added, "There are no objections. We agree with the county's recommendation, have no dispute with any of the conditions." Middleton said her firm had performed the eelgrass survey and found no eelgrass in the immediate area: "We did the eelgrass survey, and found no eelgrass in the area."

The applicants propose shortening the pier by about 12 feet while increasing the float area to roughly 18 feet so the dock is more usable at higher tides; the application shows about 117 square feet net increase in overwater structure. The design would remove four concrete anchors and replace chain rodes with helical-screw anchors and elastic (bungee) float feet to reduce lateral movement and substrate scour, Middleton said. The applicant also submitted a declaration and photos that the examiner accepted into the record as Exhibit 4.

Maycock told the examiner that the original dinghy dock was approved in 1986 and that the proposal reconfigures a long‑standing, permitted facility. He said the county received a request from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for an updated eelgrass report (which the applicant submitted) and a letter from the Lummi Nation historic preservation officer; the planner said there were no written objections in the record opposing the permit. The planner also noted there is an existing joint‑use agreement for a nearby community dock and that shared rights could limit use of that facility in the future.

The applicant team said the new design will stop the float from grounding and remove the long chains that now scour the seabed. Middleton described the proposed anchoring as helical screw anchors tested for strength, and she said the float feet system will prevent the float from resting on different low‑tide footprints that currently enlarge the area of scour.

No members of the public supplemented the record at the hearing. The examiner said he may conduct a site visit and will issue a written decision after taking the record under advisement.

The record items admitted at the hearing include the staff report, the applicant declaration and photos (Exhibit 4), and the updated eelgrass survey submitted in response to the DFW comment.

The examiner closed oral testimony on the Dickinson matter and left the record open only as needed for the examiner to inspect the site; he will issue a written decision later.