Big Lake Water. The way of our lives, our health, recreation, and happiness
Help Protect Big Lake Water Quality
August 10, 2026
Each year, Skagit County reviews its Title 14 Unified Development Code for changes as part of an annual review. We are taking this opportunity to urge the County to amend the Critical Areas section of that code to close the Critical Area Report loophole. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, 2026 — here is where things stand, and how you can help.
How we got here
We were somewhat successful in our effort to make the County assess impacts from new development to all critical areas — not just those within 200 or 300 feet of a project — as we saw happen with Overlook Crest above Big Lake.
In response to our petition to the State Growth Management Hearings Board (GMHB), the County told GMHB that the specified distances were only a presumption, and that the Director can require the applicant to provide a critical area report by a qualified professional “whenever the facts warrant it.”
The GMHB accepted that assurance as fact. Now it is up to the community to persuade the County “to make it so.”
The loophole
The ordinance still contains language — kindly called a “loophole” — that lets the applicant avoid this burden. The County’s Critical Area Checklist and website also describe the process as looking only 200 or 300 feet from the project.
It is because of this loophole that the County approved the Overlook Crest plat in 2013, the shoreline 42″ pipe in 2024, and now the 2025 plan — with no public hearings and without any professional opinion on the impact of the project’s stormwater on Big Lake.
What to do now
Public hearing — Planning Commission
Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Skagit County Commissioners building
Show up in person, or file a written comment by email to pdscomments@co.skagit.wa.us.
Be sure to include your name, address, and email address.
For more information, email us at add contact email or visit our Contact page.
The short version — what to tell the County
If you file a comment, keep it simple. Ask the County to close the Critical Area Report loophole — that is, to remove the provisions in the ordinance that let an applicant avoid a professional analysis of its project’s impacts on critical areas such as Big Lake when the lake is more than 200 feet from the project.
See also the long version: what needs to be done to fix the Critical Areas Ordinance.
We need your help NOW!
A local team of Big Lake residents along with the Friends of Skagit County organization are working together to ensure no stormwater pollution enters Big Lake from a new 105-home development.
The new land plan packs 105 homes in 3 rows of ¼ acre lots on the slope above the golf course, in violation of various County land division requirements. The Skagic County Planning Department appears to violate State and County laws requiring a public review process.
We’re fighting back for the public’s right to know and participate in this important decision. WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW. Please help fund our experienced land use attorney to take this to Superior Court.
Skagit County's Hearing Examiner says the public is not entitled to notice of this new plan or an opportunity to participate in its review. The Planning Department refuses to conduct the public hearing on the stormwater system ordered by the Board of County Commissioners last November. The Planning Department says no Environmental Review is required, even with all of the new information since the original review. The Planning Department ignores Dr. Horner’s report that the new stormwater plan, although better than the first plan, will send pollution to Big Lake.
We APPEALED this unannounced and unreviewed new land plan. The Hearing Examiner dismissed our appeal, at the request of Overlook Crest with support of the Planning Department. Details at biglakeinformed.org.
Please send donations, in any amount to: Network for Good - http://nfggives.org/
or send checks to: Friends of Skagit County
PO Box 2632, Mount Vernon, WA 98273-2632
Mark Donations: Protect Big Lake Fund
QUESTIONS?
EMAIL: biglakeinformed@gmail.com or CALL Friends at 360-419-0988, leave a message.
We'll get back to you, ASAP!
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