Original Post Date: 4-30-2008

It must be a busy life to be a “planner”, either for a career or just as a volunteer. Now-a-days, public/customer awareness and participation is such a big part of and requirement for successful planning.  The Internet gets all the information out and available readily.  Public review meetings can be well attended with knowledgeable participants.  Plans must be made, remade, reviewed, and challenged – sometimes by the whole world it seems!  But that is usually good, planners need feedback! 

Here are a few current NaturalSkagit planning activities to try to dig into.

Geographic Response Plans for Oil Spills Tonight, April 30 there is a workshop to learn how to help update these site-specific,”first few hours” response plans.  7:00pm – 9:00pm at Padilla Bay Reserve facility by US Coast Guard and Washington State Department of Ecology.  Do you wonder what you could do if there was a big oil spill in Padilla Bay???

Bayview Ridge Urban Growth Area Plan Tonight, April 30 there is a public meeting to review an update to this plan.  7:00pm – 9:00pm Bayview School on Josh Wilson Rd. by Skagit County Planning Dep’t. 

There are also County Planning Commission public hearings at 6:00pm on Tue. May 6 (Sewer, School siting) and Tue. May 13 (Zoning, Minimum density, Capital facilities, other plan updates) at the County building, 1800 Continental Place, Mt. Vernon.

Urban Growth Area Open Space and Greenbelts This is a planning effort with the Skagit Council of Governments and Skagit County to identify and provide for open space greenbelts and access corridors throughout the county, as required by the Growth Management Act.  A public meeting was held on April 16, to be followed by others in May and June.  Watch for announcements.

Statewide Bike Facilities and Pedestrian Walkways The Washington State Department of Transportation must provide for additional bike and pedestrian facilities, also required by the Growth Management Act.  http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike/bike_plan.htm gets you to the material and a chance to comment.  From a cursory read, it looks like Skagit County could use some more participation!!!  Comments are due by May 31.

Two great “Earthy” articles in the past few days here on GoSkagit - Lots of interest in keeping this place nice!  You will find them in the “Columns” section of the “Opinion” tab on http://www.goskagit.com One of the articles, by Elin Miller, regional administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency, gave several ideas for being involved.  One of the ideas was to Adopt Your Watershed.  Is anyone doing this already?  Let me know!!  We need to report on it and encourage more.  Wading In is as good as Digging In!

The Local-Organization-You-Might-Want-To-Be-Involved-With this week is the Friends Of Skagit County http://www.friendsofskagitcounty.org FOSC is a non-profit, founded in 1992 to promote and encourage local compliance with the new Growth Management Act (GMA).  Their mission includes protecting the natural environment, supporting sustainable, resource-based economies, and promoting livable urban communities for present and future generations.  They subscribe to the “SmartGrowth” approach.

If you are passionate about our rural style here, and also like to “hold feet to the fire” (so to speak), then consider joining up and participating – or – at least donating money to their cause.  FOSC is our organization that has done the most to challenge local interpretations of the GMA and has taken numerous cases before the GMA Hearings board.  It is a big job and they can use a lot of help.

You are strongly encouraged to study the website and attend public meetings about land-use issues.  When you see and hear their presentations and arguments you can decide for yourself how you might help.  Get on their mailing list; it will keep you up-to-date on what is happening and what issues are coming up for review. 

Here are some near-term activities to consider:

Thur. May 1 Anacortes Community Forest Lands Usage Plan Public Meeting Fidalgo Center 7:00pm

Sat. May 10 Master Gardners Plant Sale - Annual sale at the WSU Research center on Memorial Highway, Mt. Vernon 8:00am - 3:00pm

Sat. May 10 Washington Park walk - Friends of Washington Park Focus on Wildflowers!  Meet at new rest room at Loop Rd start. 10:00am - Noon

Fri./Sat. May 16 & 17 Sustainability Fair - Skagit Valley College Speakers, Activities, Exhibits 10:00am - 3:00pm http://www.skagit.edu/sustfair2008

Fri. May 23 Low Impact Development Workshop Padilla Bay Reserve Facility 8:30am – 3:30 pm No charge, includes lunch to reserve a seat

Sat. May 24 Trail and Brush Clearing at Cumberland Creek 10:00am – 1:00pm http://www.skagitlandtrust.org or for details

Sat. May 31 Birding at Cumberland Creek 7:30am – 1:00pm Skagit Audubon Society http://www.fidalgo.net/~audubon/ Meet at S-W Food Pavilion Dress for walking through brush, bring binoculars, lunch

Many similar events and activities and opportunities are posted on the GoSkagit Event Calendar.  Check it often! 

(Your comments about this blog will be helpful.  New ideas to consider, and changes we should make are especially welcome.  Corrections and further enlightenment will help as well.  You can email to {encode="PeteH@Skagitwater.org" title="PeteH@Skagitwater.org"}.  Thank you.)