Welcome to Skagit County

October 2nd, 2006

SOUTH FIDALGO MEETING ANNOUNCED
Planning process restarted, long-range vision first step

(Mount Vernon, WA) Skagit County announced today the first of several public meetings to develop a long-range “sub-area” plan for South Fidalgo Island, to take place Wednesday, October 18th, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at Brodniak Hall at Anacortes High School.

The plan re-initiates work originally begun in 2003, when the County appointed a citizen and technical advisory committee to develop land-use strategies in response to projected growth and requirements of the State’s Growth Management Act (GMA). Recommendations from the 2003 process proved problematic from many residents’ viewpoints, and even State requirements, according to County officials.

The October meeting is intended to examine the first process and allow residents to refine the long-range “vision” for South Fidalgo Island. The eventual sub-area plan will evolve from the broad-brush goals and objectives contained in the vision, said Bill Grimes of Studio Cascade, the Spokane-based firm hired to prepare the plan. “We see the first meeting as a way to revisit previous efforts and either re-affirm or re-shape the basic assumptions of how folks want the South Fidalgo area to grow,” he said. “A strong vision for Fidalgo will give us a strong foundation for a plan that truly fits the community.”

The meeting will feature a review of previous work, and ask attendees to identify key features and characteristics of South Fidalgo through group discussions, presenting these to the larger audience at the conclusion of the event. Subsequent meetings will develop schematic land-use alternatives, outlining various ways the area could develop over the next 20 years. The process is expected to produce a draft plan by March of 2007, from which the County will prepare a fully detailed land use and policy framework for eventual adoption.

Extensive information, including dates for future meetings, documents, exercises and coverage of the process will be posted on a project-specific website at (www.skagitcounty.net). Residents are encouraged to contact County planner Jeroldine Hallberg at 360.336.9410, Extension 3175 or email jeroldineh@co.skagit.wa.us for more information.