PERMITTING IS A NIGHTMARE.

One immense problem I know exists and drives up your prices – both home purchase and home rental – is the permitting nightmare.  As an attorney who has lived and worked in the land use arena in San Juan County for 33 years, I can attest to the fact that the permitting regulations are onerous – it is difficult if not impossible for an intelligent soul to navigate through the plethora of requirements without help from a professional.  It shouldn’t be this way.  In my opinion, the pendulum is out of balance.  Of course, protecting our valuable resources is a requirement.  But in the past two years, reason and logic has been largely shoved aside.  With the added costs of professional services the cost of expert reports, the mitigation requirements that go on for years – a landowner faces $50,000-$80,000 in added costs prior to even breaking ground.

 

I have been an advocate for property owners my entire career.   People are not coming to the island to ruin it.  They possess the same love of the islands, the waters, the flora and the fauna that you do.  But if building costs more, and values climb sky high, the costs are passed on to the consumers.