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Comprehensive Plan Update Project Schedule

Get the latest schedule information here!

The 2025 Skagit County Draft Comprehensive Plan is now available for public review! This important document will help shape the future of Skagit County for the next 20 years and your voice is important.

3rd Draft 2025 Comprehensive Plan Documents and 2nd Draft Development Regulations Documents

3rd Draft Comprehensive Plan and Supplemental Documents

2nd Draft Development Regulations and Supplemental Documents

How to Comment

Written Public Comment

The comment period is open from May 29, 2025, to June 16, 2025 at 4:30 PM. Below are the two options for submitting public comments.

Option 1: Email comments are preferred and must be sent to pdscomments@co.skagit.wa.us with the proposal name “Skagit County 2025 Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations Update” in the subject line.

Option 2: Paper comments must be printed on 8½x11 paper and mailed or delivered to:

Planning and Development Services
Comments on “Skagit County 2025 Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations Update”
1800 Continental Place
Mount Vernon WA 98273

All comments must be received by the deadline referenced above and include your full name and mailing address. Comments not meeting these requirements will not be considered.

Public Hearing: You may also comment in person. A Board of County Commissioners public hearing will be held on June 16, 2025, at 1:00 PM. The Board of County Commissioners is hosting meetings in the Skagit County Commissioners’ Hearing Room at 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. You may also comment in person or via Zoom. If you wish to provide verbal testimony, please send an email to pdscomments@co.skagit.wa.us, with your name, phone number, and include a request to be added to the speakers list in the body of the email. You may also sign up to be on the speakers list at the public hearing. Public hearing testimony is usually limited to three minutes, so written comments are preferred. Anyone who plans to attend the public hearing and has special needs or disabilities should contact Planning and Development Services at (360) 416-1320 at least 96 hours before the hearing to discuss and arrange any special accommodations.

To view the live stream on Skagit21: https://www.skagitcounty.net/Departments/TV21

You may also attend the meeting remotely through your telephone or from your computer, tablet or smartphone with this link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87180001980?pwd=eEVGUGkxZ3NkQkhYSnhBMEo2RTQrdz09
or by calling: 1 (253) 215-8782 (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 871 8000 1980 Passcode: 143573

2nd Draft 2025 Comprehensive Plan documents

2nd Draft – Clean Draft Comprehensive Plan with Updated Appendix
2nd Draft – Redlined Comprehensive Plan

Draft 2025 Comprehensive Plan Documents:

SEPA Determination and Checklist

Skagit County has issued a SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) for the 2025 Periodic Comprehensive Plan, Development Regulations, and Critical Areas Ordinance update on May 15, 2025. As part of the environmental review process, the SEPA Checklist and DNS are now available for review. Written comments on this threshold determination must be submitted by 4:30 PM, May 30, 2025. For more information on how to comment, please see the SEPA DNS below.

Critical Areas Ordinance and Development Regulations Update

Skagit County is conducting a review of the County’s Development Regulations and Critical Areas Ordinance as part of the periodic Comprehensive Plan update process pursuant to the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA), RCW 36.70A.130(5) Updates the Unified Development Code are being made to reorganize the code to improve its structure and implement the updated policies proposed as part of the 2025 Periodic Comprehensive Plan update..

Documents for Critical Areas Ordinance and Development Regulations Update

Please see the table below under Upcoming and Past Events for documents related to the Critical Areas Ordinance and Development Regulations Update, including the Notice of Availability for the public hearing and comment period.

What is a Comprehensive Plan?

The comprehensive plan is a set of overarching goals and vision statements to guide the physical growth and development in Skagit County while protecting natural resource lands, open space and rural areas, and creating Urban Growth Areas where development should be directed. The comprehensive plan also establishes the most appropriate uses of land in unincorporated Skagit County for the next twenty years.

Washington State requires all counties, cities, and towns planning under the Growth Management Act to conduct a periodic review and update of its comprehensive plan and development regulations to ensure consistency with state laws and the expected population and employment projects for the next 20 years. Skagit County must complete its current periodic update, referred to here as the 2025 Update, by June 30, 2025. 

Upcoming and Past Events


Upcoming Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioner Meetings for Review of the Draft Periodic Comprehensive Plan Update

 

  Date Topic Public Comment Period Dates
February 2/11/2025 Summary of Vulnerability Assessment for Climate Element, Climate Policy Overview, & Housing Policy Overview
• February 11th Meeting Memo to Planning Commission
• Vulnerability Assessment
• County Assets Memo
• Vulnerability Assessment FAQ
• Housing Needs Assessment
February 2/18/2025 Policy Overview - Land Use, Transportation, Utilities and Capital Facilities, and Economic Development Elements
• Draft 2025 Comprehensive Plan (Redlines)
• Draft 2025 Comprehensive Plan (Clean Version)
• Staff Report - Draft 2025 Comprehensive Plan
• Notice of Availability – Draft 2025 Comprehensive Plan
• Housing Land Capacity Analysis
• Employment Land Capacity Analysis of Bayview Ridge UGA

2/13/2025 to 3/13/2025

Comments Received- First Draft of Comprehensive Plan

February 02/25/2025 Joint Planning Commission – Board of County Commissioners Meeting
Planning Commission Memo
Forest Advisory Board Proposed Policies
March 3/11/2025 PC Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing
March 3/12/2025 PC Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing (if needed) Cancelled
April 4/8/2025 PC Comprehensive Plan Deliberations and Recommendation
Angela Day Comp Plan Comments March 2025
Public Comment Summary Matrix
Attachment C Recommendations
2025 Periodic Comprehensive Plan Update – public comment summary
2025 Periodic Comprehensive Plan Update – staff recommended policy amendments
Skagit County Planning Commission’s Recorded Motion
Policy 2G-1.1 Revised Recommendation
April 4/15/2025 PC Comprehensive Plan Deliberations and Recommendation
Agricultural Advisory Board Comments- April 2025
April 4/22/2025 Critical Areas Ordinance and Development Regulations Work Session
Critical Areas Ordinance Update Memo
Critical Areas Update Staff Report
Redlined version of the draft Skagit County Critical Area Ordinance Update
Critical Areas Ordinance Best Available Science (BAS) Review
Critical Areas Ordinance Gap Analysis
Staff Report for Draft Development Regulations Update
Draft Development Regulations Update
Notice of Availability for Development Regulations and Critical Areas Ordinance Updates
04/21/2025 to May 8, 2025
April 4/28/2025 Board of County Commissioner’s Work Session to Discuss Comprehensive Plan Update
2025 Comprehensive Plan Update BoCC Staff Report
2025 Comprehensive Plan Update BoCC Slide Deck
2025 Comprehensive Plan Update - Planning Commission Recorded Motion and Findings of Fact
2nd Draft – Clean Draft Comprehensive Plan with Updated Appendix
2nd Draft – Redlined Comprehensive Plan
May 05/6/2025 Critical Areas Ordinance and Development Regulations Public Hearing
May 5/20/2025 Critical Areas Ordinance and Development Regulations Deliberations
CAO and Development Regulation Public Comments
May 20th Planning Commission Meeting Memo
Attachment A – Public Comment Summary Matrix
Attachment B – Public Comments
Attachment C – Staff Recommendation to the Planning Commission
DRAFT Planning Commission Recorded Motion
May 5/27/2025 Board of County Commissioner’s Work Session to Discuss Development Regulations
  • Memo to BoCC Regarding 2025 Development Regulations Update
  • May 27 2025 Development Regulations Amendments  Slide Deck
  • May 20 Planning Commission Recorded Motion and Recommendation on Development Regulations Update
  • June 6/16/2025 Board of County Commissioner’s Public Hearing to Hear Testimony on Comprehensive Plan Update and Development Regulations May 9, 2025 to June 16, 2025
    June 6/17/2025 Planning Commission Continued Deliberations on Critical Areas Ordinance Update
    June 6/23/2025 Board of County Commissioner’s Discussion/Possible Action: Adoption of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update and Development Regulations
    July 7/7/2025 Board of County Commissioners Work Session to Discuss Critical Areas Ordinance Update
    July 7/28/2025 Board of County Commissioners Public Hearing to Hear Testimony on Critical Areas Ordinance Update
    August 8/4/2025 Board of County Commissioners Discussion/Possible Action: Adoption of the 2025 Critical Areas Ordinance Update
    TBD   BOCC Briefings and Public Hearings

     

    Past Planning Commission Meetings for Draft Policies to the Comprehensive Plan Period Update
      Date Topic Public Comment Period Dates
    July  7/23/2024  Rural and Natural Resources
    MEMO RE: July 23, 2024, Planning Commission briefing – 2025 Periodic Comprehensive Plan Update
    Appendix A, Rural Element Preliminary Policy Revisions
    Appendix B, Natural Resource Lands Preliminary Policy Revisions
    Transcript: Planning Commission
    Public Comments Received- Rural and Natural Resource Lands
    7/23/2024 to
    8/22/2024 4:30 p.m.
    August  8/20/2024  Land Use, Housing, and Economic Development
    2025 Periodic Comprehensive Plan Update - Planning Commission Briefing Memo
    Housing Element Preliminary Policy Revisions
    Land Use Preliminary Policy Revisions
    Economic Development Preliminary Policy Revisions
    Transcript: Land Use, Housing, and Economic Development - Planning Commission Work Session
    Public Comments Received – Land use
    Public Comments Received – Housing
    Public Comments Received – Economic Development

    8/20/2024 to
    9/19/2024 4:30 p.m.
    September  9/24/2024  Transportation, Capital Facilities, and Utilities 
    2025 Periodic Comprehensive Plan Update – Transportation, Capital Facilities, and Utilities Elements Planning Commission Briefing Memo
    Capital Facilities and Utilities Preliminary Policy Revisions
    Transportation Preliminary Policy Revisions
    Transcript
    Public Comments Received – Transportation
    Public Comments Received – Capital Facilities and Utilities
    9/24/2024 to
    10/24/2024 4:30 p.m.
    October  10/22/2024  Environment and Climate Change, Resiliency and Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction
    2025 Periodic Comprehensive Plan Update – Climate and Environment Elements Planning Commission Briefing Memo
    Climate Element Preliminary Policies
    Environment Preliminary Policy Revisions
    Comprehensive Plan Element: All Elements (Climate Integration) Preliminary Policy Revisions
    Skagit County Green House Gas Emissions Analysis
    Public Comments Received – Environment
    Public Comments Received – Climate Change
    10/22/2024 to
    11/22/2024 4:30 p.m.

    The above listed dates are the Planning Commission sessions where first draft policies will be presented to Planning Commission as a workshop item. A public comment period will be open for approximately a month after each draft is released for review. The Planning Commission meetings and the public comment periods will provide an opportunity for Planning Commissioners and the community to provide feedback to project staff for second draft revisions. This will be part of the first draft process and there will be a second draft review process that will include public hearings with the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners. Please see project schedule for more information.

    Further updates will be available as these meetings approach with the presentation materials and draft elements available prior to the Planning Commission meetings.   

    Skagit County Vulnerability Assessment

    The Skagit County Vulnerability Assessment was conducted as part of the County’s Comprehensive Plan periodic update to inform the policies and information in the climate resiliency sub-element. This assessment identifies and evaluates potential impacts from climate-related hazards on County-owned assets and other resources critical to the community’s resilience. The assessment ensures that Skagit County is proactively addressing risks posed by climate-related hazards, such as flooding, wildfire, and sea-level rise. This helps protect public assets, prioritize investments, and plan for a more resilient community. In addition, this is a requirement passed by State law and is part of a larger effort to manage growth within a climate change framework. Below are links to the Vulnerability Assessment, analysis on County-owned Assets, and a memo addressing Frequently Asked Questions:

    Docket Request to Expand Anacortes Urban Growth Area (UGA)

    The City of Anacortes has submitted a docket petition to expand its Urban Growth Area (UGA) as part of the 2025 Skagit County Periodic Comprehensive Plan update. The petition seeks to incorporate nine (9) city-owned parcels, totaling 107.24 acres, into the Anacortes UGA. The parcels are currently being used—and will continue to be used—for recreational purposes. One of the parcels is also used for Anacortes Public Works soil storage in addition to a trail use. The City is not requesting this boundary change for growth purposes, but rather for recreational and operational needs.:

    The Board of County Commissioners will be holding a work session on February 11, 2025, at 1:00 PM and a public hearing with possible action scheduled February 25, 2025, at 3:30 PM. A public comment period will be held from February 6, 2025 and will close Friday, February 21, 2025 at 4:30 PM.

    Three options for public comment – mailing, emailing, or attending the public hearing on February 25, 2024 at 3:30 PM.

    Mail to 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon, WA

    Email to pdscomments@co.skagit.wa.us

    Relevant Documents

    2025 Countywide Planning Policy Amendments

    The proposed updates to the Skagit County Countywide Planning Policies are proposed to bring the policies into consistency with new Growth Management Act requirements relating to housing, climate resilience, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction.  The CPP amendments also include the 2045 growth allocations for all of Skagit County. The proposed CPP amendments will set the framework for the 2025 Skagit County Periodic Comprehensive Plan Update which is required to be consistent with Skagit County CPPs. The Skagit County Board of County Commissioners will be holding a public hearing on March 25, 2025 and may take possible action to adopt or deny the proposed changes during that meeting. Below are the documents related to the Countywide Planning Policy updates:


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