San Juan Preservation Trust and Skagit Land Trust Begin Fundraising Feasibility Period

Two local land c onservation organizations – the San Juan Preservation Trust and The Skagit Land Trust – are partnering with the island community to raise $2.8 million to acquire the highest point on Guemes Island.

Joost Businger looks west towards Cypress Island from the top of Guemes Mountain.

In April, this conservation partnership signed an agreement that gives the community the immediate opportunity to buy and conserve an undeveloped 70-acre property that includes the summit of what locals refer to simply as “The Mountain.”

A longtime destination for hikers (despite the fact that it is private property), The Mountain rises up from Square Harbor on the east side of Guemes and has rewarded generations of islanders and visitors with spectacular wildflower blooms and unobstructed panoramic views of Mt. Baker, the ports of Anacortes and Bellingham, the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges, and the layered vistas of the surrounding San Juan Islands.

As real estate values soar in the San Juan Islands, and as countless signature island properties are lost to development, The Mountain has remained miraculously undeveloped. But the threat of development looms. Current zoning (R-10) on the property could allow as many as seven 10-acre home sites on the hilltop, and the expansive views from the property’s numerous open grasslands and ridges make this a perfect location for a premium residential development. 

Forever Undeveloped and Open to the Public

The acquisition of this 70-acre parcel by the conservation partnership would ensure that the entire property, including its stunning vistas and natural features, will remain forever undeveloped and accessible to the public. Together with contiguous protected properties that have already been permanently protected by both the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife and the San Juan Preservation Trust, a successful acquisition would create a combined conservation area of over 180 acres of wildlife habitat and 1.8 miles of pristine shoreline that surrounds Square Harbor.

Two-Phase Fundraising Campaign

The agreement with the sellers of the property gives the conservation partnership up to nine months (until the end of 2008) to perform its due diligence tasks.

“We will use the first phase of the campaign to form a steering committee of concerned citizens that will seek pledges for large donations representing about 80% of our $2.8 million goal, which is $2,240,000,” explained Sven Haarhoff, campaign manager and director of charitable giving for the San Juan Preservation Trust. “At the end of this year, our respective boards will see how much money we have raised and decide to either extend the agreement for an additional nine months – into the fall of 2009 – or terminate the agreement, which allows the property owners to continue their effort to sell the land to private landowners or developers,” said Haarhoff. 

Only Seeking Pledges for Large Gifts

At this point, the partnership is only seeking pledges for large donations to the project. If the partnership is able to secure financial commitments for 80% of the total project cost, then the land trusts’ respective boards will likely vote to approve phase two of the project, which would involve a public fundraising campaign to raise the remaining $560,000. That is when the community will be encouraged to submit donations.

“We view the first nine months as a feasibility campaign,” said Haarhoff. “During this time, we will only seek pledges for leadership gifts of $10,000 or more. We will not accept any donations smaller than $10,000 because we first have to focus on securing commitments for the very large donations needed to get us to 80% of the goal by December 2008.” 

People interested in talking to the conservation partnership about pledging leadership gifts may contact Sven Haarhoff at the San Juan Preservation Trust: 360-378-2461, or svenh@sjpt.org .

Project Costs At-a-Glance

Land purchase price:  $2,590,000 (The appraised fair market value).
Transaction costs (*):  $   210,000
Total project costs:      $2,800,000

(*) Costs associated with the purchase include legal and consulting fees, fundraising expenses, appraisals, environmental reviews, real estate taxes and closing fees.

About the San Juan Preservation Trust

Founded in 1979, the San Juan Preservation Trust (www.sjpt.org) is a private, non-profit land trust dedicated to helping people conserve land in the San Juan archipelago. Noted for its $18.5 million acquisition of Turtleback Mountain on Orcas Island, the organization has permanently protected more than 240 properties, 28 miles of shoreline, and 13,000 acres on 18 islands, including land now managed as public parks, private  nature preserves, and working farms and forests.

About the Skagit Land Trust

Skagit Land Trust was founded in March 1992 by three visionary leaders and 31 Charter Members to help protect the natural lands, open space and wildlife habitat of Skagit County for the benefit of this and future generations. The Trust has grown steadily to become a respected grassroots organization with strong local support and is recognized as an innovative leader in conservation. The six staff, 18 board members and 40 active volunteers are joined by over 550 members to protect the most important and beloved land and landscapes in the county. The amount of land and habitat protected by the Trust has quadrupled in the past five years to more than 5,000 acres including more than 22 miles of shoreline.

Sven Haarhoff, San Juan Preservation Trust, 360-378-2461        

Molly Doran, Skagit Land Trust, (360) 428-7878