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Sedro‑Woolley council divided over joining Northstar regional interlocal agreement
Summary
Council members debated whether Sedro‑Woolley should sign an interlocal agreement with the Northstar collaborative at the Oct. 22 meeting; concerns focused on local control, partner jurisdictions' budget shortfalls and the scope of proposed regional zoning and permitting coordination.
The Sedro‑Woolley City Council spent substantial time on Oct. 22 discussing a draft interlocal agreement (ILA) proposed by the Northstar collaborative, which would formally align several Skagit County cities and the county on a nonbinding framework for regional housing and permitting coordination.
Councilwoman Kesty read a prepared statement and said she would "respectfully decline participation in the interlocal agreement at this time," arguing that changing zoning without a "comprehensive community‑focused plan" could cause unintended consequences and that some partner jurisdictions face budget deficits that make financial collaboration risky. Kesty also voiced concern that the group’s work might lead to…
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