Transcript From the Beginning to Beyond

The Skagit Alternative Futures Project
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How might the Skagit Valley develop over 50 years
- through 2060?
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Given population growth, climate change,
changing agricultural markets…
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Project will model several different potential
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Appointed Stakeholder committee will combine
best elements to develop a preferred future
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And specific recommendations for implementation
futures
Alternative Futures Project
Background
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Skagit County received EPA grant in 2008
Skagit County is the project coordinator
Departments include Planning, Public Works,
GIS, Natural Resources Policy Coordinator
Outside partners include UW, WSU, Skagit River
Systems Coop, and others
Participants include cities, tribes, conservation,
agricultural, and forestry organizations, state
agencies, and others
Project Timeline: 2009
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Steering Committee and Technical Committees
are meeting
Task is to develop, model and evaluate four
“Alternative Futures”
- Plan Trend, Agriculture, Conservation, Development
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Accounting for population growth, climate
change, and other factors
For modeling purposes only
Project Timeline: 2010
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Stakeholder Committee meets to develop and
recommend a “Preferred Future”
Draws on results of modeling, and consensus
decision process
Preferred future is a hybrid that seeks to maintain:
- a commercially viable and sustainable agricultural industry
- a healthy, resilient ecosystem
- highly livable, economically viable urban and rural communities
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And implementation strategy for how to get there
Project Timeline: 2011-2012
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Skagit County and other jurisdictions:
Implementation through Countywide Planning
Policies, Comprehensive Plans, development
regulations, new economic incentives, etc.
Opportunities
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Promoting important cross-jurisdictional and interdisciplinary discussions
Allowing us to think longer-term and get out of
“narrow” GMA box
Securing resources for important County needs
Challenges
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Requires large amounts of County staff time
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Moving forward into uncharted territory
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Will address some deep-seated conflicts
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What can/will be different about this process?
Steering Committee Members
Rone Brewer, Washington Waterfowl Association
Jan Ellingson, Crown Real Estate LLC
Margaret Fleek, City of Burlington
Jana Hanson, City of Mount Vernon
Carolyn Kelly, Skagit Conservation District
Paul Kriegel, Forestry Representative
Margaret Studer, Futurewise
Steering Committee Members
Patsy Martin, Port of Skagit County
Kevin Morse, The Nature Conservancy
Rebecca Ponzio, Puget Sound Partnership
Allen Rozema, Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland
Mike Shelby, Western Washington Agriculture Association
Shirley Solomon, Skagit Watershed Council
Dr. Gary Tollefson, Skagit Valley College
Larry Wasserman, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
SKAGIT COUNTY
&
SKAGIT
WATERSHED
County = 1.1 Million acres
Watershed = 2.0 Million acres
County Specific – Planned Trend
Examples
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Growth Management limitations
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County options for growth
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Available residential lots
Build out
Bayview Ridge
Working with other jurisdictions
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City plans for growth