March 28, 2024
Commissioners to host Work Session and Q&A on Agricultural Event Venue AOI
The Skagit County Commissioners will host a televised work session and Q&A regarding the March 21st agricultural venue administrative official interpretation (AOI) on Monday, April 1st, at 4:00pm. The AOI establishes procedures by which existing commercial event venue businesses in substantial and continuous operation may document existing use rights and obtain compliance with other relevant law through entry into a Voluntary Compliance Agreement (VCA).
The VCA is a standard contract used by Skagit County Code Enforcement to ease enforcement of agreed-upon compliance terms and conditions. The VCA additionally provides clarity and community transparency as to the permissible scope of each existing activity that seeks recognition as an existing business in operation prior to the adoption of Ordinance #20240001 on January 29, 2024.
The public may watch the work session and ask questions by either joining the meeting in-person in the Commissioner’s Hearing Room at 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon, or via Zoom. Links to the meeting are available on the Commissioner’s webpage below. Please note, if you watch the work session via TV21 you will not be able to ask questions.
https://skagitcounty.net/Departments/CountyCommissioners/main.htm
The purpose of the work session will be to host a staff presentation on the specifics of the AOI and how existing businesses can enter into a VCA with Skagit County. The public will have the opportunity to ask questions of the County Commissioners and staff regarding the specifics of the AOI.
This hearing will not take public comment on the existing moratorium, or proposed changes to permanent code. The purpose of this work session is to provide opportunity for the Board and existing event venue owners to discuss the issues and ask questions of County staff.
The Skagit County Commissioners hosted a post-adoption hearing regarding Ordinance #20240001 last Monday, March 25, 2024. The Ordinance imposes a temporary moratorium on events and certain other activities on lands zoned Agriculture-Natural Resources (Ag-NRL). The purpose of the hearing was to take public comment regarding the moratorium, existing business activities and enforcement, and the Administrative Official Interpretation directed by the Ordinance. The public hearing can be watched on the Commissioner’s video archive at the link below:
https://skagit.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=8&clip_id=4440
Written comments on the moratorium and AOI will be accepted through April 4, 2024, at 4:30pm. You may submit written comments by emailing pdscomments@co.skagit.wa.us or by mailing and drop off to 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. Please provide your name and full address on any submitted written comments.
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