Appendix B: Resources
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Appendix B: Resources At least 35 public, non-profit, and private organizations are involved in The following pages summarily describe each organization based on open space preservation, enhancement, and maintenance within Skagit information provided during the workshop sessions, mapping data County – though not all are directly involved in such activities in or recorded in Skagit County’s GIS system, and organization publications. around the UGAs. Each organization’s land holdings are depicted in the graphic at the Workshops were conducted with most of these organizations at the top of each jurisdiction’s page based on the county’s current GIS beginning of this planning process in order to determine their mission, records. The county’s records may be incomplete in some instances resources, programs, projects, and other particulars. where the property record searches do not recognize all the titles under which an organization may own easements or lands – or B-1 Appendix B: Resources Skagit County UGA Open Space Plan instances where the title includes other jurisdiction or landholder names or references. Due to the extreme complexity of the GIS mapping characteristic overlays and map scale, the organization’s graphic only shows UGA boundaries in relation to the property easements or title holdings on record for the western portions of Skagit County. The purpose of the graphic is to illustrate the dimensions of each organization’s landholdings in relation to the county as a whole and the UGAs in particular. The simplified organizational landholding graphics are correlated with the water, slope, roadway, and UGA base map shown on the first page of this introduction section. Large scale graphics that may include mapping characteristic overlays are too complex to display in this report format – but are available from the Skagit County GIS Department for those that are interested. B-2 Appendix B: Resources Skagit County UGA Open Space Plan B.1: Active Community Task Force (ACT) www.scog.net The Active Community Task Force (ACT) grew out of the Healthy paths and trails, parks, open space, and low cost of free recreation Communities Initiative (or Active Community Environments – ACE) facilities. ACEs encourage mixed use development and a connected established by the Washington State Departments of Health (DOH), grid of streets, allowing homes, work, schools, and stores to be close Transportation (WSDOT), and Community Trade & Economic together and accessible to pedestrians, wheelchair users, older adults, Development (CTED) as a means of encouraging healthy lifestyles. and bicyclists. Skagit County was one of 8 counties selected to participate in the 5- year Washington State ACEs Pilot Project. ACTs directory of membership includes the Skagit County Public Health Department, Department of Public Works, Skagit Transit, Skagit Valley Active Community Environments (ACE) are places where people of all Hospital, Port of Skagit, Swinomish Tribe, Tesoro Anacortes Refinery, ages and abilities can easily enjoy walking, bicycling, and other forms WSDOT, the Skagit Council of Governments (SCOG), among others of recreation. ACEs have sidewalks, on-street bicycle facilities, multiuse including private parties. B-3 Appendix B: Resources Skagit County UGA Open Space Plan Advocates and supports for trails and non-motorized ACT advises the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Skagit improvements, such as the Tommy Thompson Trail extension Council of Governments (SCOG) on non-motorized issues. The TAC and the Berentson Bridge signage and barrier extension incorporates these concerns into recommendations to the Regional In partnership with the Skagit County Parks & Recreation Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO) Policy Boards. Department and Skagit County Healthy Communities Project, formed the Skagit County Trails Coalition in 1008. The Trails ACT in partnership with the Skagit County Physical Activity Coalition Coalition is working to develop a countywide master trail and has developed and coordinated the Skagit County Walking and Trail bicycle plan. Guides and Skagit County Bike Map. These projects incorporated In partnership with Skagit County Parks & Recreation, ACT has county GIS mapping services to create the base maps and are intended created a trail monitoring program, which utilizes infrared to familiarize county residents with the trail and biking potentials available in the county. counters to monitor trail facility usage. ACT members participate in comprehensive transportation and In 2008, ACT convened local cities, towns, and the county to create a non-motorized element plans updates to ensure that they countywide inventory of on and off-road trail and route missing links include Physical Activity (PA), open spaces and trails plans. improvement projects. The “Gap List” was included in the Washington ACT members provide expert input to local jurisdictions on State Department of Transportation’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan update non-motorized projects as requested. and serves as a prioritized listing on non-motorized projects for local Is partnering with Whatcom, Snohomish, and Island Counties to jurisdictions. create a region-wide, multicounty approach to trail planning. Statewide ACE priority strategies are to: On-going activities for ACE projects Increase physical activity by connecting trails and bike paths Applying for grants or other funding sources Support policy in Growth Management plans to include physical Developing partnerships activity Reviewing and updated comprehensive non-motorized plan Establishing partnerships with transportation, planners, elements policymakers, and local health organizations Providing input to policymakers Developing Active Living (or Community) Task Forces to work Help establish partnerships that would not occur without ACT on projects and advise RTPOs Conduct ACE assessments Skagit County ACEs work completed and in progress includes: Established the Active Community Task Force in 2002 Conducts annual Safe Routes to School (SRTS) trainings and provides technical assistance for local jurisdictions and school districts for SRTS programs and grant writing Conducted ACE assessments, including the 2008 assessment of Anacortes, Burlington, LaConner, Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley, and Skagit County Conducts annual ACE’s or Active Living Leadership workshops or forums B-4 Appendix B: Resources Skagit County UGA Open Space Plan B.2: Bayview Ridge Urban Growth Area www.skagitcounty.net The Bayview Ridge Subarea Plan creates a small urban A Citizens Advisory Committee worked with the county to prepare the area called a “non-municipal Urban Growth Area (UGA) plan, which was then forwarded to the County Planning Commission on about 3,600 acres located around the Skagit County for review. The Planning Commission focused on the following major Regional Airport. If developed as proposed, the area issues: would accommodate about 2,000 of the 50,000 new resident forecast to live in Skagit County in the next 20 Airport compatibility and appropriate scale of land use in various years and not accommodated in existing urban growth areas. safety zones, and Infrastructure, especially stormwater management sufficient to The subarea includes the Skagit Regional Airport and a mix of existing protect downstream farms, water, sewer, parks, transportation, urban levels of commercial, industrial, and residential properties plus schools, and emergency services. rural residences and some farms. The remaining undeveloped properties are generally large, providing an opportunity for multiple The Planning Commission recommended numerous changes including: uses and master planning. The proposed new urban area represents about 3,600 acres of the slightly larger 4,000-acre subarea studied in Deferring the urban residential portion and new industrial and the plan. commercial zoning until the county adoptes the Bayview Watershed Stormwater Management Plan; B-5 Appendix B: Resources Skagit County UGA Open Space Plan Allowing new schools in limited circumstances; Providing an opportunity for residents to live, work, and recreate in Larger areas for small retail and service businesses; the same community; Greater protection of residential development where adjacent to Encouraging a variety of housing opportunities; industrial uses; and Creating a safe, pedestrian-friendly internal transportation More pedestrian and bicycle connections. network; Preserving and protecting aviation activity at the Skagit Regional The Bayview Ridge Subarea Plan was adopted by the Skagit County Airport, an essential public facility, consistent with the Skagit Regional Board of County Commissioners in December 2006, than subsequently Airport Master Plan; appealed to the Western Washington Growth Management (GMA) Providing for industrial development in a planned and coordinated Hearings Board. The Hearings Board decision issued in August 2007 fashion; found the urban growth area to be generally consistent with GMA but Developing an open space network that provides recreational ordered the county to update the capital facilities plan for providing opportunities, airport safety, and protects and maintains natural infrastructure. The compliance schedule called for the county to report resources and critical areas; and back to the Hearings Board in February 2008. Creating a Community Center to be a hub of local service provisions and limited commercial activity serving Bayview Ridge Boundaries residents and employees. The boundaries