Kirk Johnson

Skagit County Planning and Permit Center

200 W. Washington Street

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

23 April 2004

Dear Mr. Johnson,

Friends of Skagit County remains concerned about the potential for inappropriate visual pollution in our rural areas if the proposed sign ordinance is passed. This valley is the sole open working landscape left in Puget Sound, and maintaining existing valued vistas is essential to the economic viability of Skagit County as a tourist destination. The County has been ordered to adopt a sign ordinance that protects our rural character (Evergreen Islands v Skagit County WWGMHB No. 01-2-0022 (FDO, 2/6/01)). We do not believe that this ordinance complies with the Hearings Board orders.

The proposal would allow for new billboards to be as large as 6 stories high and 168 ft² – that is huge and most certainly would not protect rural character. The County has even proposed to INCREASE the height and size of some signs (SCC 14.16.820 Section 7(b)(c)).

We are especially concerned that non-conforming signs be removed within one year. The proposal would allow for certain non-conforming signs to remain indefinitely. That is not appropriate.

Many of the details in this draft ordinance have not changed from earlier versions, and we stand by our comments that were submitted at an earlier hearing on this issue (letter from Gerald Steel dated Feb. 4, 2002 and November 1, 2001; letter from June Kite, November 15, 2001). We do not feel this draft complies with the Hearings Board orders and we call on the Commissioners to vote it down and send it back to staff for a serious and substantive re-write.

Sincerely,

June Kite, President

P.O. Box 2632

Mt. Vernon, WA. 98273

360-419-0988

friends@fidalgo.net

www.friendsofskagitcounty.org

Board of Directors 2004

June Kite, President

Conway

Ken Osborn, Vice President

Mount Vernon

Lyle & Barbara Craner, Secretary

Conway

Carrie Youngquist, Treasurer

Mount Vernon

Chris Danilson

Mount Vernon

Ellen Gray

Mount Vernon

Peter Shainin

Bayview

Staff

Judy Dudley, Director

People dedicated to preserving Skagit County’s rural character by protecting the natural environment; supporting sustainable, resource-based economies; and promoting livable urban communities for present and future generations.