The Land Bank Commission
The Land Bank Commissioners are volunteer members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners and serve four year terms.  More information about the composition, powers & duties and organization of the Commission, can be found in the San Juan Ordinance, Chapter 16.54, Citizens Conservation, Land Bank.

Commission Meeting Information
Meeting Schedule, Minutes and Agenda

Commissioners
Amanda Azous, Chair of the Land Bank Commission, has been a Land Bank Commissioner since May, 1999. She is a Science Director for Herrera Environmental Consultants, an interdisciplinary environmental and engineering consulting firm servicing the northwest. Prior to her work for Herrara, Amanda consulted at Azous Environmental Sciences for 12 years, providing environmental services such as land management planning, stewardship plans, ecological restoration and design services in the Islands. Her work affords her the special opportunity to research, visit and study land throughout the San Juans. This has fueled her commitment to land stewardship and preservation. Amanda also serves on the San Juan County Noxious Weed Board and is an advisor to the Board of the San Juan Nature Institute. She is from Doe Bay on Orcas Island. She can be contacted at: PO Box 530, Olga, WA 98279 or tel. 360-370-5802 or,
e-mail at azous@rockisland.com

(in alphabetical order)
Mary Blackstone first visited the San Juans in 1970 and fell in love with the beauty of the islands.  She and her husband, Roger Collier, had a solar-powered cabin on South Finger Island (next to Sucia Island) for 10 years beginning in 1987 and retired to Orcas Island in 1997. Prior to moving to Orcas, she worked in marketing and marketing communications in the Seattle area, working for electronics companies and later had her own company serving clients in electronics, communications, and software. She is an avid birder and a member of San Juan Islands Audubon Society. She is a member of the Board of Trustees and former president of OPAL Community Land Trust, helping to create permanently affordable homes on Orcas Island. She can be reached at 46 Plum Tree Farm Lane, Eastsound WA 98245 or tel. 376-4779 or email at mblackstone@rockisland.com

Tom Cowan and his family have lived on Lopez Island since 1974. Tom is a policy consultant and a marine resources project manager. He was formerly the Director of the Northwest Straits Commission, a citizen-based organization charged by Congress with protecting and restoring salmon, shellfish, bottomfish and marine habitats in Puget Sound. Prior to this position, he was the legislative liaison for the Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team. Tom was also a San Juan County Commissioner from 1983 to 1994 and was active in creating the State legislation that authorized the San Juan County Land Bank. He serves on the Board of the SeaDoc Society, a marine ecosystem health program centered on Orcas Island.
He can be contacted at: 3299 Center Road, Lopez Island 98261 or tel. 468-2191
or, e-mail at tomcowan@centurytel.net

Nancy Greene, first visited the San Juan Islands in 1966 and moved to Lopez in 1993. She is part of Greene Partners Architecture and Design, an architectural practice located in Lopez Village since 1989. Previously she managed commercial construction projects ranging from $500,000 to $27 million in San Francisco and has taught college courses in the humanities. She helped create Lopez Center and is active in Lopez Village Planning and the creation of sustainable design and building practices in the San Juans. Nancy can be contacted at: PO Box 129, Lopez, WA 98261 or tel. 360-468-3659 or, e-mail at nancy@greenepartners.com

Nancy Harvey Jones, lives in the Town of Friday Harbor. A life-long resident of the Puget Sound region and visitor to the San Juan Islands, she and her husband, David, restored a historical home in the Town and moved here in 1996. She was appointed by the Town Council to serve on the first Historic Preservation Review Board, acting as Chairman for two years. Prior to relocating to the San Juans, Nancy was involved in civic and cultural activities in south King County. She was an elementary Montessori teacher and teacher-trainer prior to becoming a Certified Financial Planner. She has owned her own Investment Advisory Firm since 1987. She can be contacted at: PO Box 2965, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 or tel. 360-378-8996 or, e-mail at nhjones@rockisland.com

Thom Pence 'retired' to San Juan Island in 1999 after having spent eighteen years of his thirty year career as a forester with the U S Forest Service in Southeast Alaska. He is a lifelong conservation advocate, has initiated and led community recycling programs and would rather ride his bicycle than drive a car. He is a board supervisor for the San Juan County Conservation District, coaches youth basketball, and is actively restoring Garry oak habitat on San Juan Island. Thom also enjoys volunteering his forestry and labor skills to those in need. He can be reached at: PO Box 2262, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 or tel. (360) 378-6696 or, e-mail at safearbor@rockisland.com

see also Land Bank Staff

back to top