SKAGIT COUNTY CRITICAL AREAS ORDINANCE 2006 UPDATE
About the 2006 Critical Areas Ordinance Update
December 23, 2008
The Board of County Commissioners adopted revisions to the Critical
Areas Ordinance . This included changes to Skagit County Code 14.04, 14.16,
14.18 and 14.24. The effective date of these changes is February 1, 2009.
November 5, 2008
The Planning Commission has finished their review of the draft CAO and
it will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday November
25, 2008. It will be on their agenda for discussion and possible action on Tuesday,
December 9, 2008.
Copies of all documents are available at Planning & Development Services,
1700 East College Way in Mount Vernon.
August 28, 2008
The Planning Commission completed deliberations on the draft CAO on June 26th.
Staff will be meeting with them again to discuss the draft Recorded Motion which
outlines their recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC).
Once approved by the Planning Commission, the Recorded Motion will be given
to the BoCC for review and possible action. The meeting with the Planning Commission
will be held in the Commissioner's Hearing Room at 1800 Continental Place at
6pm, Tuesday September 2nd.
Background Information
The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) requires cities and counties
to protect critical areas within their jurisdiction to preserve the natural
environment and protect public health and safety. Skagit County's Critical Areas
Ordinance (CAO) was adopted in response to this mandate in 1996. In 2002, the
GMA was amended to require jurisdictions to update their comprehensive land
use plans and development regulations including CAO's every 7 years. The State
mandated deadline for Skagit County to complete the update is December 1, 2006.
Jurisdictions are required
to use the "best available science" (BAS) in developing and updating
policies and regulations to protect the functions and values of critical areas.
In addition, special consideration is required to be given to conservation or
protection measures necessary to preserve or enhance anadromous fish populations.
Objectives of the CAO
Update
1. Fair and Inclusive Process - Throughout the update process, Skagit County
Planning and Development Services will be working with a Board of Skagit County
Commissioner appointed Citizen Advisory Committee; hosting public open houses,
meetings and hearings; and posting new information on the County website.
2. Policy Integration -
Objectives of the process are to update and streamline these regulations; eliminate
overlaps, inconsistencies and gaps; integrate information from additional resources
including other regulatory and policy documents.
3. Compliance with State
Guidelines - The update must comply with the Washington State GMA.
General Process for updating
the CAO
- Use BAS in designating
and protecting critical areas
- Evaluate and update existing
policies and regulations
- Evaluate the classification
and designation of critical areas
- Evaluate the development
review process pertaining to critical areas
- Review the CAO for consistency
with other policy and regulatory documents
- Provide opportunities
for public involvement throughout the update and adoption process
Ways to be Involved
Document Review: Review and comment on draft documents that are linked on this
website.
Attend Public Events: Public
meetings and hearings will be listed on this webpage and noticed in the Skagit
Valley Herald.
Links to Online
Documents:
Draft Code Changes
SCC
14.24 "Clean Version"
SCC
14.24 "Strike-thru/underline Version"
SCC
14.04
SCC
14.16.860
SCC
14.18.310
SEPA Documentation
SEPA
Threshold Determination
SEPA
Checklist
Notice
of Availability
Best Available Science
Documentation
Best
Available Science - Wetlands/Fish & Wildlife
Best
Available Science - Geologic hazards
Best
Available Science - Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas
Additional Documents
Staff
Report
Revisions Tables: FWHCA
Revision Table, Wetland
Revision Table
Code
Update Fact Sheets
Useful
Web Links
Links to Online Documents:
Skagit
County Unified Development Code (Title 14)
Critical
Areas Ordinance (Skagit County Code 14.24 pdf)
Skagit
County Comprehensive Plan
For More Information
More information on the CAO Update will be posted here when available.
Contact: Betsy Stevenson at 360.416.1320
email:caoupdate@co.skagit.wa.us |
