La Conner Town Council and the Skagit County Commission approved their respective comprehensive plan updates this week, keeping pace with the original June 30 state deadline despite an extension to year’s end.
Town Council Members Annie Taylor, Rick Dole, and MaryLee Chamberlain voted to adopt the La Conner plan at a June 24 public hearing. Council members Ivan Carlson and Mary Wohleb were absent.
Chamberlain said she supported acting now. “I feel like making this happen now will make it alive and that’s where the value is.”
Skagit County Commissioners Lisa Janicki and Ron Wesen approved the county’s updated plan June 23. Commissioner Peter Browning was absent.
The Growth Management Act requires updates every 10 years, with annual opportunities for revisions.
“We have a living document,” Janicki said. “I’m relieved we got this done.”
Retiring Town Planner Michael Davolio said town and county plans must align. “We’ve been through the entire process over the past two years,” he told the council. “We’ve received comments from the (state) Department of Commerce that have been added.”
The Town Planning Commission had recommended approval of all but two elements: climate and housing. Town Assistant Planner Ajah Eills said updated housing and climate chapters were revised and distributed before the vote, including a new vulnerability index and deeper demographic analysis.
Town and county officials also approved new development regulations tied to the updated plans. Most were required by the state.
Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter who covers Town government, schools, and spot news.
