2025 Ordinance Change

Dear Protectors of Big Lake,

On July 28, 2025, the Commissioners are expected to vote on updates to the Critical Areas Ordinance.

This coming Monday, July 7, 2025, they will have a “work session” (no public comments). 

Please send a note to your commissioners before Monday.  “Please fix the Critical Areas Ordinance to protect all critical areas that would be affected by new project off-site impacts – not just critical areas within 200’.”  ljanicki@co.skagit.wa.us   Pbrowning@co.skagit.wa.us   ronw@co.skagit.wa.us

Ideally, let them know before the work session, that you urge them to protect Big Lake, a critical area for juvenile salmon, from stormwater runoff from larger projects.   That looking at off-site impacts of new development up to only 200’ away is not good enough and the County Stormwater code doesn’t provide enough protection either.  FYI-I spoke at the Tuesday ‘open mike’ period on June 24 to get a head start.  Comments attached. 

We urged the Planning Commission to make these changes but the staff told the Planning Commission no change was needed.  Staff said looking only 200’ off-site was good enough, and compliance with the Skagit County Stormwater Code would prevent any harm.  

We’ve provided Department of Ecology statements and case law to show them they are wrong, but no one is listening YET.  

We’ve learned with the Overlook Crest project that just complying with the County Stormwater Code and being 800’ away from Big Lake wasn’t good enough to protect Big Lake water quality. 

With the community’s help, we obtained a professional critical areas site assessment from Dr. Horner who found the Overlook Crest stormwater plan did nothing to protect Big Lake, and adding untreated stormwater runoff from Overlook Crest’s planned addition of 18+acres of new impervious area would harm Big Lake.    

It shouldn’t have been up to the residents to obtain the assessment.  State law requires the County to make the applicant do this but the County has decided to put blinders on and look at off-site impacts no further than 200’ from the project.   

State law requires these assessments beyond the 200’ limit.  And so should the Skagit code.  

If you can help with a public comment on July 28th let us know.  One 3-minute speaker does not get very far.