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Council authorizes mayor to apply for up to $750,000 in county public‑infrastructure funds for Beatty Square; vote 5‑2
Summary
The council authorized the mayor to submit a Skagit County public‑infrastructure grant application to support Beatty Square, a mixed‑use project that would include Boys & Girls Club space; authorization was approved 5‑2 with two dissents over precedent and timing concerns.
The council voted 5‑2 to authorize Mayor Johnson to submit a county public‑infrastructure grant application for the Beatty Square mixed‑use project, with authorization limited to an application amount not to exceed $750,000.
City staff said the county program was recently expanded to allow affordable‑housing projects to apply for public infrastructure funding; Beatty Square’s developer, RJ Group, proposed using a successful county award to fund on‑site public infrastructure such as sidewalks and utility connections. Staff emphasized that submission of an application would not obligate city funds — any award and acceptance would return to council for action.
Developer representatives described Beatty Square as a 38‑unit mixed‑use building with ground‑floor community uses and apartments above; RJ Group also described a broader site concept with townhomes and cottage units on adjacent parcels. The developer said the Boys & Girls Club would occupy most of the first floor and that some residential units would be set aside at 80 percent of area median income (AMI) if grant funding were secured. Staff said the county requires 80 percent AMI for its affordable‑housing public‑infrastructure awards.
Several council members raised procedural and policy concerns: the proposal arrived late in the meeting packet and in the council’s schedule, raising questions about process and precedent for the city to act as an applicant on behalf of a private developer. Council members also asked whether the city would be setting a precedent for similar requests in the future and asked for clarity about long‑term leases or covenants that would preserve any community uses funded by the grant. Staff replied that if the county awarded funds they would return to council with detailed award terms and potential deed, lease or covenant language for council consideration.
The motion to authorize the mayor to submit the application passed on a 5‑2 vote. Councilwoman Diamond and Councilman Henderson recorded the two opposing votes.
