Skagit County is asking residents to weigh in on changes to how it protects the local environment—especially since the updates could result in less usable land for property owners.
The Skagit County Planning Commission is considering changes to the Critical Areas Ordinance, which outlines how the county regulates wetlands, wildlife habitats, aquifers, floodplains and geologic hazard zones.
Some of the biggest changes include:
- Doubling buffers around non-fish streams from 50 feet to 100 feet (fish streams will remain at 150)
- Eliminating buffer reduction for wetlands and streams (property owners can still average buffers)
- Slightly decreasing buffers around some wetlands to better comply with Department of Ecology recommendations
Owners can keep already approved buffers as long as they’re not 50% smaller than the new standards. This gives some protection to owners who have already spent the time and effort to go through the zoning and development process, according to consultants who reviewed the ordinance.
Some of the changes may result in less usable land for property owners. However, if a property is rendered nearly unusable due to the ordinance, the owner could apply for a “reasonable use exception” that would allow a single-family residential project with up to 4,000 square feet of impact.
Facet NW, an environmental and planning consulting company, used the best available science to put together an analysis of the ordinance, said executive vice principal Dan Nickel during a planning commission meeting last week.
Some commissioners raised concerns about the lack of Skagit-specific case studies, but Nickel said the science is fairly common across Western Washington.
“But that analysis wasn’t specific to our shorelines, our lands, our everything,” Commissioner Joe Woodmansee said during the meeting. “I’m concerned that this is a one-directional thing and bigger buffers are taking more people’s land. And we’re not citing any specific real issue; it’s just the groupthink, the general thought is ‘The bigger the better.’”
The planning commission is also considering changes to zoning and development code, including allowing medium-density housing in rural village residential zones and increasing the number of allowed accessory dwelling units from one to two in urban growth area zones.
Residents can offer their opinions on the changes by attending a public hearing with the Planning Commission at 6 p.m. on May 6 or submitting written comments through May 8.
The public hearing will be held at the Skagit County Planning & Development at 1800 Continental Place in Mount Vernon. To provide public comment over Zoom, email pdscomments@co.skagit.wa.us with your name, phone number, and a request to be added to the speakers list. Written comments can be emailed to the same email or mailed to the address below. Comments must include a full name and mailing address.
Planning and Development Services
Comments on “Skagit County’s 2025 Comprehensive Plan”
1800 Continental Place
Mount Vernon WA 98273
The Planning Commission is scheduled to make deliberations on the ordinance changes on May 20. The updates will then go before the Board of County Commissioners, who will likely hold a second public comment period.
More information about the changes—including copies of the new ordinance, staff reports and other supporting documents—are available on the county’s website.
Sydnee Chapman: Sydnee is a freelance and investigative reporter. Her work has appeared in various news outlets in the PNW and Intermountain West.
