In the 1980s, rising real estate demand in San Juan County threatened cherished local sites. Motivated by the planned development of 88 condos at Orcas Island’s sacred Madrona Point, Peter Fisher spearheaded a movement to save the land. Noticing a gap in conservation funding, he found inspiration in Nantucket’s Land Bank program, where real estate excise taxes funded land preservation.

Peter, alongside County Commissioner Tom Cowan, built a coalition of islanders and successfully lobbied for state legislation to create a similar program. In 1990, the Citizens Conservation Land Bank, funded by a 1% real estate excise tax paid by property buyers, was overwhelmingly approved by voters.

This citizen-founded Land Bank was established through years of volunteer efforts and continues to rely on community support for its maintenance and renewal, embodying a true labor of love for San Juan County.

Current Citizen Campaign

The countywide Renew Our Land Bank (ROLB) committee, formed in 2024, is made up of local volunteers dedicated to educating voters about how the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank protects our clean water, healthy forests, wildlife habitat, affordable housing, and working farms, thereby providing a better quality of life for all.

Our group of more than 50 volunteers includes current and former Land Bank commissioners, realtors, business owners, affordable housing champions, home builders, scientists, artists, farmers, gardeners, ecologists, teachers, and more. In addition, we are fortunate to have five key advisors helping guide our efforts.

ROLB Steering Committee
Christa Campbell, co-chair
Sandi Friel, co-chair
Barbara Courtney
Chris Greacen
Elaine Shiozawa
Judy Cumming
Judy Whiting
Karen Vedder
Marilyn O’Connor
Nancy DeVaux
Peggy Bill
Peter Fisher