Commissioner Resolution Halts Consideration of Full Contained Communities

January 20, 2023

During the fall of 2021, Skagit County Commissioners considered whether the County’s comprehensive plan should be altered to allow Fully Contained Communities (FCCs). 

In January 2022, the Commissioners passed a resolution clarifying Comprehensive Plan Amendment Docket no. LR20-04. This resolution effectively halts further county consideration of Fully Contained Communities (FCCs) at this time.

The resolution says the county will not continue processing a proposal to amend the Skagit County Comprehensive Plan to allow FCCs unless the GMA Steering Committee changes its long-standing opposition to FCCs. The GMA Steering Committee, made up of the county and the cities, has rejected FCCs at least four times in the past. We do not know when the GMA steering Committee will address this issue.

La Conner, Sedro-Woolley, and Mount Vernon all passed resolutions opposing FCCs and this recent consideration to alter the county’s comprehensive plan. We are grateful to the Trust members and so many others who shared their thoughts with elected officials. Your voices were heard and helped city councils and county commissioners understand the community’s concerns prior to voting on the resolutions. If you can, please take a moment to thank your elected officials for standing up for smart growth in Skagit County.

Skagit Land Trust opposes allowing FCCs into Skagit County. FCCs have a documented history of leading to degradation of rural and natural lands, while increasing traffic congestion and sprawl in counties south of here. Snohomish County tried FCCs and now bans them. Other counties prohibit or discourage FCCs because they create sprawl.

The Trust understands the need to accommodate growth; however, adding large urban impacts to rural areas which are not equipped to deal with them, does not make sense in a county that is nationally renowned for its rural lands and economies. Our cities, towns and the county must continue to work together to accommodate growth for all income levels. We are encouraged by this recent vote that they will work towards solutions that fit our unique county. We hope that solutions are found that keep our cities vibrant, our rural areas intact, and that keep FCCs out of Skagit County.

Background on the Trust’s work in recent months to advocate against the adoptions of FCC’s in Skagit County.

In October of 2021, Skagit Land Trust’s Board of Directors voted to become a supporting member of the local grassroots campaign, “Right Growth, Right Place: FCCs are Not the Answer.“ This campaign is organized by a coalition of local citizens and organizations including Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland, Skagit County Farm Bureau, Evergreen Islands, Indivisible Skagit, and Home Rule Skagit.

The Trust submitted a comment letter* to the County this spring. 700 comment letters were submitted in all, overwhelmingly opposed to FCC’s. *(Email info@skagitlandtrust.org for a copy of this letter).
The Trust’s Take Action webpage has more information about Skagit Land Trust’s opposition to FCCs.

Skagit Land Trust’s Take Action Page with information on the Trust’s opposition to FCCs
Skagit Scoop – What Is The Framework Agreement
Skagit Valley Food Coop Community Conversation- Growth in Skagit Valley: Our Future, Farming, and FCCs
Skagit Valley Herald – Opponents speak out on fully contained communities
Seattle Times – Final blow to housing-community plan for Lake Roesiger?
Skagit County site link to FCC amendment proposal and related public comments
Puget Sound Regional Council – Vision 2050 recommendation to avoid FCCs (MPP-DP-43)