Skagit County commissioners briefed on 2025 comprehensive-plan update; planning commission recommends approval

Skagit County commissioners on April 28 received a briefing on the county's 2025 periodic comprehensive plan update and the Planning Commission's recommendation to the board. Planning consultant Clay White, of Kimley-Horn, and county staff outlined the schedule, major policy changes in the draft, and next steps for public hearings and adoption.

The Planning Commission "has just completed their unanimously recommending approval of the comprehensive plan update, with some policy recommendations that will come to you," Clay White told the board. Robbie Eckroff summarized that the commission provided its recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners on April 15 and described the materials and public outreach that led to the recommendation.

Why it matters: the update implements state Growth Management Act requirements and local priorities that will guide housing, transportation, utilities, and natural-resource protections for roughly the next 20 years. County staff said the draft also adds a new climate element with resiliency and greenhouse-gas (GHG) subelements and includes policy language intended to be achievable by county actions and collaborations with regional partners.

Key takeaways from the briefing

- Planning commission recommendation and schedule: staff said the Planning Commission held a public hearing March 11, deliberated and issued a recommendation April 15. The county will hold briefings and public hearings this spring and early summer, including a May 6 Planning Commission hearing on critical areas and development regulations, a May 27 briefing for the board, and proposed board hearings in June (staff referenced June 16 and additional June dates for adoption-related actions).

- Housing and growth strategy: staff described a revised housing strategy that aims to direct more housing into urban areas while providing limited opportunities for certain housing types in rural locations where public facilities can support them. The draft responds to recent state housing laws that require more granular planning for housing types and affordability. Staff and commissioners discussed that lower-income multifamily housing generally requires urban services (sewer, higher densities) and therefore is more appropriately located inside cities.

- Natural-resource lands and agriculture: the Planning Commission recommended reverting many agricultural-policy changes to the 2016 policies, with a few additions. One notable recommendation would allow consideration of parcels as small as 1 acre for natural-resource-land (NRL) designation where other criteria are met; current practice cited in the briefing typically treats agricultural parcels as 5 acres or greater. Staff said the change is meant to provide flexibility for small or starter farm operations but noted there are safeguards to avoid creating isolated "peninsulas or islands" of NRL zoning. Staff also said there are no proposed map changes in this update; any future map amendments would require additional analysis and approvals.

- Forestry and conservation: the Planning Commission recommended recognizing forestry for carbon sequestration and including language to allow conservation easements on resource lands. Staff noted existing tools (for example, the county's conservation subdivision options) could be used, but there is not currently a dedicated county-funded forest legacy program.

- Climate element: the draft adds resiliency and GHG-reduction subelements with policies describing incremental actions the county will pursue (for example, concentrating future growth in urban areas, expanding walking and biking facilities, coordinating with Skagit Transit, and transitioning county facilities to more energy-efficient systems where feasible). Staff said some additions were made after comments from the Washington State Department of Commerce to clarify data and near-term actions.

- Utilities and renewable energy: the Planning Commission asked staff to clarify that policies encouraging renewable-energy transition apply "only where feasible" and, as written for the utilities element, may apply primarily to county buildings (new and existing). Staff said one recommended language change from the commission was not fully incorporated due to Commerce guidance related to planning for fuel transitions.

- Transportation and transit coordination: the draft meets new multimodal planning requirements and emphasizes walking and biking opportunities. Staff noted the county itself does not provide transit and highlighted the importance of working with Skagit Transit and the Skagit Council of Governments (SCOG). The Planning Commission recommended that SCOG examine the countywide allocation split (commonly referred to as the 80/20 urban/rural split) and consider adjustments.

Discussion highlights and clarifications

Commissioners and staff discussed how the plan balances statewide statutory requirements with local priorities, and how the implementation chapter is intended to act as a work plan pointing to who will carry out policies and when. Commissioner questions focused on how changes will look "on the ground," especially the proposed smaller-parcel option for NRL designation and protections against parcel fragmentation. Staff said designations would still require meeting other NRL criteria and that the change is intended to help existing small farms rather than enable new lot creation.

What happens next

Staff said draft elements are posted online in both clean and redline forms and that public comment will continue. The county will issue a SEPA notice, receive public comments on the critical areas ordinance and development regulations, and bring recommendations and public-comment summaries to the commissioners ahead of the scheduled June hearings.

Ending note: commissioners praised the phased release and outreach approach used by staff and the planning commission, which staff said generated more than 200 comment letters across multiple public comment windows and in-person meetings. The board signaled it will review staff recommendations and public comments before formal action on the comprehensive plan update and associated development regulations.