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Skagit County adopts 2025 comprehensive plan update and reorganizes development code (Title 14)
Summary
After more than a year of public process, the Skagit County Board of Commissioners adopted the 2025 comprehensive plan update including zoning map amendments and approved a reorganization and update of Title 14 to implement the plan; both ordinances passed 2–0.
Skagit County commissioners on June 23 adopted the county's 2025 comprehensive plan update and approved a separate ordinance reorganizing and updating Title 14 of the county code, a set of development regulations intended to implement the plan and make the code easier to use.
Riley Eckroff, Planning and Development Services staff, told the board the county had worked with the community, the planning commission and consultants for more than a year. The most recent public comment period for the third draft of the comprehensive plan ran from May 29 to June 16; staff received 27 comments during that period that were provided to the commissioners and linked to the project website.
Why it matters: The comprehensive plan is a periodic 20-year policy document required by the Growth Management Act; its goals and policies guide development regulations and permitting. Planners said the update sets countywide direction for population, housing and employment growth and must be consistent with implementing code.
What the board approved: Commissioners adopted an ordinance adopting the 2025 comprehensive plan update, including amendments to the comprehensive plan zoning map. Later in the meeting the board adopted a separate ordinance reorganizing and updating Title 14, primarily a reorganization but with substantive changes on setbacks, boundary-line adjustments, lot certifications, and provisions to implement housing and electric-vehicle charging policies. Planning staff said much of Title 14's changes are organizational (tables for setbacks and uses) to improve usability for staff and the public.
Public process and remaining work: Planning staff said the planning commission reviewed the drafts and unanimously recommended approval subject to staff recommendations. Several public commenters raised issues about Big Lake stormwater, agriculture protections for habitat restoration, and the need for an environmental or climate-resiliency advisory body. Staff said some language about rural-village residential zones and community plans was restored to the comprehensive plan policies after public feedback; language allowing a community plan option was not moved into the development regulations because it is not a development standard.
Votes: The motion to adopt the ordinance adopting the 2025 comprehensive plan update (including zoning-map amendments) was moved and seconded and carried 2'to'0. A separate motion to adopt the 2025 Title 14 reorganization and update also carried 2'to'0.
Ending: Staff said future annual docketing and petitions can still amend the comprehensive plan and that a separate critical-areas update (critical areas ordinance) will return to the board with a second-draft and public hearing in the coming weeks.
