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Skagit County to reorganize Title 14 development code; public review and hearing set
Summary
Skagit County planning staff presented a reorganization and limited rewrite of Title 14 — the county development code — focused on readability and structure rather than broad policy change, with a public comment period May 29–June 16 and a Board hearing June 16.
Skagit County planning staff presented a reorganization and limited rewrite of Title 14 — the county’s development regulations — that planners say is primarily mechanical: splitting very long chapters, standardizing terms and moving substantive rules out of definitions so the code is easier for staff, applicants and the public to use.
Ryan Walters, the county’s planning consultant, told the Board of County Commissioners the update is “very much mechanical. We're not trying to achieve substantive outcomes, except in a couple of areas which I'll highlight.” Walters laid out a new structure of seven divisions, broke the long zoning chapter into many shorter chapters and said the rewrite emphasizes tables for comparing uses and separate sections for use standards.
The reorganization retains most current rules while clarifying structure, Walters said. Among changes the county highlighted: moving definitions of uses into use‑standards chapters, a heavier rewrite of the setbacks chapter with added illustrations, an exemption of accessory dwelling units from impact fees, allowance for two ADUs in UGA residential zones, the addition of vehicle charging stations to some zones, and preservation of a site‑specific “Big Lake Overlook” provision after public comment.
Planning Director Jack Moore and county staff urged that the update is intended to improve navigation and reduce unintended differences among repeated provisions. Moore said the update uses “limited rewriting” and that retaining consistent terminology and moving rule language out of definitions were priorities.
The planning commission recommended the development regulations on May 20 and staff said a second draft of the development regulations will be posted for public comment on May 29. The county announced a public comment period that runs May 29 through June 16; the Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on June 16 and may adopt the comprehensive plan update and the development regulations on June 23. The planning commission will continue deliberations on the related critical areas code and is scheduled to meet again on June 17.
Commissioners asked about specific provisions: one commissioner sought assurance that language tied to the county’s Big Lake Overlook property remains substantively unchanged; Walters and staff said the intent is to retain the existing substance while streamlining the text. Staff also said they will post explanatory “blue boxes” in the draft to show where language moved from and to, to aid reviewers.
What’s next: staff will post Draft 2 of the development regulations and Draft 3 of the comprehensive plan update for public review starting May 29, accept public comment through June 16, then hold the Board hearing June 16 with adoption possible on June 23. The related critical areas ordinance will return to the Board later this summer after additional planning commission work.
The presentation and materials were framed as organizational and clarity improvements rather than a wholesale rewrite; staff said some substantive items required by the recent comprehensive plan update and state law were included.
