Planning staff asks commission to set Dec. 19 hearing on East Sound Village density increase

San Juan County planning staff asked the Planning Commission on Nov. 21 to set a public hearing for a simple code amendment that would align the East Sound Village development code with a recent comprehensive-plan map change and raise the village commercial minimum density from 4 to 12 units per acre (maximum remains 40).

"The proposal is to increase the minimum to 12," Sofia, planning staff, said, explaining that the official maps and the code must match because the maps are part of the regulatory comprehensive plan. She gave examples of recent local development that already exceeds the proposed minimum, citing projects that worked out to roughly 16–25 units per acre and a three-unit project on about 0.17 acres.

Sofia said she will prepare an ordinance and asked the commission to set a public hearing for Dec. 19; the commission, after confirming quorum and availability, set the hearing by consensus. Sofia said the goal is to have adoption complete and the comp plan effective date aligned with the ordinance so map and code changes take effect simultaneously, with staff aiming for adoption by late February.

Commissioner Bill asked whether the council had discussed other infill minima and whether a minority recommendation to raise some residential minima from 4 to 8 was considered; Sofia said the council did not take up that change after the commission recommendation.

The commission directed staff to circulate the ordinance and related findings in advance and noted that deliberations will follow the public hearing on Dec. 19.