Island County approves expansion of Shangri La Shores water system boundaries to add off‑site well

The Island County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 28 approved Resolution C0525 to expand the service-area boundaries of the Shangri La Shores water system and to incorporate the change into the county’s coordinated water system plan.

John Lanier of long-range planning told the board the expansion adds one parcel for a new well located farther from the shoreline to help the system become more resilient to saltwater intrusion. Lanier said the parcel sits about 1 mile from the Cupville water system service area and that Shangri La Shores holds a franchise agreement (No. 426) that expires in 2043.

Lanier summarized the system’s service counts: 58 active services and 27 potential services; four service connections would be associated with the new well. Lanier said the system is holding five additional potential connections in reserve for possible accessory dwelling units, which leaves an aggregate of roughly 85 active-or-potential connections if the addition is approved. He also told the board the water‑system review (submitted as Water System Review 11624) had met state and local requirements.

“The new well is further from the shoreline to help the water system create resilience to saltwater intrusion,” Lanier said.

During deliberation, Commissioner Bacon raised concerns that using an off‑site parcel for water infrastructure can remove developable lots within the original plat and that the system’s original planning assumptions did not anticipate current demand or environmental pressures. Bacon asked whether the county should continue to honor connection counts for pre‑platted parcels when the system lacks resource support within the original plat area. Lanier and other staff answered that county planning now takes a closer look at parcel constraints, and that off‑site utility parcels can be a practical way to serve denser areas where on‑site wells or septic systems are limited.

The board opened a public hearing on the matter; no members of the public offered testimony during the hearing. A motion to approve Resolution C0525 was made and seconded and the board voted in favor by voice.

Lanier noted that the franchise agreement referenced in the presentation runs through 2043 and that the change to the coordinated water system map requires a public hearing because the map is part of the county’s planning documents. The resolution, as presented, adds the new parcel to the Shangri La Shores service area and updates the coordinated water system plan to reflect that change.

No amendments to the resolution were made on the record. The record does not list a specific dollar amount for any capital work associated with the new well; staff said the water‑system review and state approvals were complete and that any future construction would follow permitting requirements and franchise terms.