SAN JUAN COUNTY, Wash. — Guard Sundstrom's farm traces its roots back to 1898.
He's been farming the land for the past quarter century. Sundstrom loves the quiet Island lifestyle and wants to keep it that way.
"It's pretty peaceful out here, generally, and this might change that," Sundstrom said.
San Juan County is planning to build a three-mile-long, 10-foot-wide paved trail through Sundstrom's property and plenty of other properties, as well.
Sundstrom said it's an insult to farmers and people who have loved this land for more than a century.
"Nobody wants this," Sundstrom said. "It doesn't sit well. It's rude, I think, of the county."
The county has been awarded $5 million from the federal government to build the trail.
The idea is to increase safety by giving pedestrians and cyclists their own space on San Juan Valley Road.
But farmers said that will just invite more traffic and more tourism – seen on the picturesque island as necessary evils for the local economy – but only in small doses.
"I think we'd be inundated with people," Sundstrom said. "It would take away the peacefulness of it out here."
"We feel like we've heard loud and clear from the community that they want these amenities," said Grant Carlton, project manager.
Carlton said farmers and the rest of the community will be included in the conversation about how the trail will run its course.
"I very much intend to go into the community to hear those voices and talk about options, hear their concerns because I know they're out there," Carlton said. "I know they're valid. Hopefully we get to a balance."
Balance is something the people on San Juan Island care deeply about.
Housing prices are out of control. People who work on the island often can't afford to live there.
The U.S. Census Bureau said San Juan County has the highest income inequality in the state.
Locals joke that to live on the island people either have three homes or three jobs.
Farmers fear a trail will only exacerbate the inequities -- inviting more tourists and transplants -- paving the way for deeper problems.
"Yes, money from off-island coming to our community is good but there is a tipping point," said Adam Eltinge of Valley View Cattle Farm. "At some point we have to say enough is enough. We don't need another Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard."
Folks on the island still have plenty of time to work out a solution as the county has until September 2026 to submit a formal plan.