Planning and Development Services

Hamilton Public Development Authority
Skagit County Floodway Mitigation & Hamilton Relocation Program


The vision of the Hamilton Public Development Authority (PDA) is to develop and implement a permanent flood mitigation solution that restores the Town of Hamilton as a viable and desirable municipality in and around which to live and work, reduces repetitive losses from flood-prone areas of Skagit County, and enhances our riparian natural resources. Realizing this vision requires: County adoption of the Hamilton Subarea Plan and approval of the Urban Growth Area (UGA) Public-private partnerships to purchase UGA land area and develop infrastructure Purchase floodway properties and transfer development rights to the UGA Develop commercial and residential districts for the UGA, including a variety of affordable housing options Board of County Commissioners Approves Hamilton Relocation Subarea Plan and Urban Growth Area Expansion On Tuesday, August 12, the Board of County Commissioners approved a long-awaited expansion of the Town of Hamilton Urban Growth Area that is an important step in the town’s efforts to relocate itself out of the Skagit River floodway. “Your action is really going to create a lasting legacy for upriver communities, that over time will significantly alter or change lifestyles up there — not only by protecting the people and property with the town of Hamilton relocation but also by providing an opportunity to diversify our rural economy,” Planning and Development Services Department Director Gary Christensen told the Board. The 107-acre expansion of the Urban Growth Area provides the town with 48 acres outside of the floodway for the relocation of its old town commercial center and residential areas. The expansion also adds 59 acres owned by Janicki Industries where the company is building a manufacturing facility similar to its existing facilities in Sedro-Woolley. The action by the Board also designates 157 acres to the northeast of the new UGA as “Hamilton Urban Reserve,” indicating the town’s long-term plans to expand into that area. Adopting Ordinance Planning Commission Recorded Motion Hamilton UGA Map Hamilton UGA Zoning Map Comprehensive Plan Hamilton Urban Reserve Policy Hamilton Industrial Zone Hamilton Residential Zone Hamilton Urban Reserve Zone Revisions to CaRD Ordinance Revisions to Landscaping Code Town of Hamilton Urban Growth Area Expansion Proposal : May 22, 2008 The Skagit County Planning and Development Services Department will release for public review and comment a revised and downsized Town of Hamilton Urban Growth Area Expansion Proposal on Friday, May 23rd, 2008. The Department will accept written comments on the proposal through Tuesday, June 10, 2008. A public hearing will be held before the Skagit County Planning Commission on Tuesday, June 10, 2008. Notice of Availability Department Report Attachment 1 – UGA map \| UGA aerial photo Attachment 2 - Open space map Attachment 3 - Hamilton Urban Reserve policy Attachment 4 - Hamilton Industrial Zone Attachment 5 - Hamilton Residential zone (clean version) \| Track changes version Attachment 6 - Hamilton Urban Reserve zone (clean version) \| Track changes version Attachment 7 - CaRD code amendments \| Landscape code amendments Attachment 8 - Response to public comments

The vision of the Hamilton Public Development Authority (PDA) is to develop and implement a permanent flood mitigation solution that restores the Town of Hamilton as a viable and desirable municipality in and around which to live and work, reduces repetitive losses from flood-prone areas of Skagit County, and enhances our riparian natural resources.

Realizing this vision requires:

County adoption of the Hamilton Subarea Plan and approval of the Urban Growth Area (UGA)
Public-private partnerships to purchase UGA land area and develop infrastructure
Purchase floodway properties and transfer development rights to the UGA
Develop commercial and residential districts for the UGA, including a variety of affordable housing options

Board of County Commissioners Approves Hamilton Relocation Subarea Plan and Urban Growth Area Expansion

On Tuesday, August 12, the Board of County Commissioners approved a long-awaited expansion of the Town of Hamilton Urban Growth Area that is an important step in the town’s efforts to relocate itself out of the Skagit River floodway.

“Your action is really going to create a lasting legacy for upriver communities, that over time will significantly alter or change lifestyles up there — not only by protecting the people and property with the town of Hamilton relocation but also by providing an opportunity to diversify our rural economy,” Planning and Development Services Department Director Gary Christensen told the Board.

The 107-acre expansion of the Urban Growth Area provides the town with 48 acres outside of the floodway for the relocation of its old town commercial center and residential areas. The expansion also adds 59 acres owned by Janicki Industries where the company is building a manufacturing facility similar to its existing facilities in Sedro-Woolley. The action by the Board also designates 157 acres to the northeast of the new UGA as “Hamilton Urban Reserve,” indicating the town’s long-term plans to expand into that area.

Town of Hamilton Urban Growth Area Expansion Proposal : May 22, 2008
The Skagit County Planning and Development Services Department will release for public review and comment a revised and downsized Town of Hamilton Urban Growth Area Expansion Proposal on Friday, May 23rd, 2008. The Department will accept written comments on the proposal through Tuesday, June 10, 2008. A public hearing will be held before the Skagit County Planning Commission on Tuesday, June 10, 2008.


The Skagit County Planning and Development Services Department has released for public review and comment the Town of Hamilton Comprehensive Subarea Plan and Urban Growth Area Expansion Proposal on Thursday, December 27, 2007. The Department will accept written comments on the Proposal through Friday, February 29th, 2008. A public hearing will be held before the Skagit County Planning Commission on Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at the time and location indicated below. Notice of Availability and Adoption of Existing Environmental Documents, Planning Commission Public Hearing Notice, and Town of Hamilton Subarea Plan and Urban Growth Area Expansion Proposal. (Pdf) Adoption of Existing Environmental Documents (Pdf) Town of Hamilton UGA Amendment Request (Pdf) Final Environmental Impact Statement to Evaluate Subarea Plan for Expansion of the Urban Growth Area, June 6, 2007 (Pdf) Department Report and Analysis of Town of Hamilton Urban Growth Area Expansion Proposal and Subarea Plan (Pdf) List of Attachments: Hamilton Public Development Authority Charter and 2007 Board of Directors. Hamilton vicinity map and aerial photograph with proposed UGA expansion. Map from previous UGA expansion proposal. Proposed UGA development regulations (Urban Reserve Industrial and Urban Reserve Residential). UGA Modification Criteria. Town and County resolutions establishing CAC. Notice of Availability and Public Hearing; Adoption of Existing Environmental Documents. Soils map and aerial photo for Hamilton and vicinity. Capital facilities cost information. Proposed Hamilton TDR/PDR ordinance. Key relocation implementation steps.	DEIS/UGA Please Note: These files are in Adobe Acrobat .Pdf format. You need the Adobe Acrobat Reader browser plug-in to view and/or print Acrobat Pdf files. You can download Adobe Acrobat here for free. Draft Environmental Impact Statement to Evaluate Subarea Plan for Expansion of the Urban Growth Area, April 18, 2007 Appendix A - Subarea Plan and CIP Appendix B - Maps: Cover Sheet (Task #8) B - 1 B - 2 B - 3 B - 3b B - 4 Comprehensive Plan Maps 1 of 8 Comprehensive Plan Maps 2 of 8 Comprehensive Plan Maps 3 of 8 Comprehensive Plan Maps 4 of 8 Comprehensive Plan Maps 5 of 8 Comprehensive Plan Maps 6 of 8 Comprehensive Plan Maps 7 of 8 Comprehensive Plan Maps 8 of 8 Map series content Processes Info Appendix C - Distribution List Expanded Distribution List Appendix D - SC Haz Mit Plan Excerpts Appendix E Repetitive Flood Loss Mitigation Strategy Skagit County Code 14.04 Skagit County Code 14.34 Attachment 1 Attachment 2 Attachment 3 (4MB) Attachment 4 Attachment 5 Appendix F - Critical Areas Assessment Appendix G - Overview of Benefit Cost Analysis Appendix H - Land Trust Model Appendix I - Transfer and Purchase of Deevlopment Rights Appendix J - LEED for Homes Program Appendix K - Hamilton Socio-Economic Statistics Appendix L - Community Planning and CAC (6MB) Appendix M - Comment Letters

The Skagit County Planning and Development Services Department has released for public review and comment the Town of Hamilton Comprehensive Subarea Plan and Urban Growth Area Expansion Proposal on Thursday, December 27, 2007. The Department will accept written comments on the Proposal through Friday, February 29th, 2008. A public hearing will be held before the Skagit County Planning Commission on Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at the time and location indicated below.