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March 22nd, 2007

SKAGIT COUNTY, HAMILTON SEEK PUBLIC COMMENTS ON SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY FOR PROPOSED EXPANSION OF URBAN GROWTH AREA

SKAGIT COUNTY - The Town of Hamilton and Skagit County are seeking public comments on the scope of an environmental study for the proposed expansion of the Town’s urban growth area.

The Town and County today released a Determination of Significance and Request for Public Comments on the Scope of the Environmental Impact Statement. The Determination of Significance addresses several possible additions to the Town’s urban growth area. These include 59 acre portion of the old Crown Pacific Log Yard located south of SR 20, north of the old Lyman/Hamilton Highway extending west to Cabin Creek Road; and 202 acres located north of SR 20 between Hamilton Cemetery Road and the Centennial Gravel Mine, and north to the Town Well site.

The Town is seeking to expand its urban growth area to accommodate 20 years of projected population and employment growth, as required by the state’s Growth Management Act. Expansion of the urban growth area would also help the Town move forward with its plans to relocate a portion of the Town from the Skagit River floodway to an area north of Highway 20 that is not subject to flooding.

The Determination of Significance and Request for Comments concludes that the proposed urban growth area expansion is likely to have a significance adverse impact on the environment. The document identifies several environmental, social, economic, and land use issues to be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement. These include how urban services, affordable housing, and economic development opportunities would be provided within the expanded Town limits, and how the surrounding rural area, natural resource lands, and environmental critical areas would be protected.

The public is invited to comment on the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement by sending written comments to Margaret Fleek, Hamilton Town Planner, 901 E. Fairhaven Avenue, Burlington WA 98233, by April 10, 2007.

The Determination of Significance and Request for Comments is viewable on the Skagit County website at www.skagitcounty.net. Or a copy may be obtained from Hamilton Town Planner Margaret Fleek at 901 E. Fairhaven Avenue, Burlington, WA 98233, phone: (360) 755-9717; or Senior Planner Brandon Black, Skagit County Planning and Development Services, 1800 Continental Way, Mount Vernon, WA 98273, phone: (360) 336-9410.