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History
of FOSC Accomplishments
Friends
of Skagit County is the only local growth management advocacy organization. The
original founders understood the
significance of the WA State Growth Management Act (GMA) and
recognized that without an organization to manage growth,
the
quality of life in Skagit County would decline. FOSC
was incorporated in April 1993 and was granted non-profit
status by the IRS in February, 1994. Using appeals
and public participation, FOSC has continued to require the County to adopt
GMA compliant land use rules and regulations.
From
1990 through early 1995, Skagit County government provided
opportunities for public participation in GMA Citizen
Advisory Committees (CACs), but did not always implement GMA-compliant
rules or regulations. Friends participated in the CACs and
also appealed those regulations which were not GMA
compliant Since 1995 Friends of Skagit County has
successfully appealed more than sixteen cases before the
Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board (WWGMHB).
Based on the outcome of Friends appeals, Skagit County was
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ordered
to designate and protect Critical Areas and Natural
Resource lands and has largely done so.
-
ordered
to adopt a public participation program and has done
so.
-
ordered
to make its urban growth boundaries more efficient and
compact and has done so.
-
ordered
to identify rural commercial & industrial lands
with specific designations and has done so.
-
ordered
to adopt development regulations to implement the
Comprehensive Plan and has done so.
Friends
participated in the 2005 Comprehensive Plan
update process, completed every 7 years. FOSC encourages citizens
to participate in local government decisions using an
action alert email list, press releases and occasionally newspaper advertisements.
During public comment periods on government actions, the
newspapers often cover the issue in more depth, publishing
citizens’ letters and responses to proposed county rules and regulations.
Sometimes the general public has not heard about these
issues until FOSC comments.
Friends
has been the backbone of GMA enforcement in
Skagit County. We are the only local non-profit
organization with this focus and mission. This is
not easy work, but Friends has always stayed clear on its
intent to protect the qualities in Skagit County which
make it such a special place to live. |
