[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6672923,"mediaKeyId","2112802-53dfc308ac88f8578b9f5645de3d403b","parentId",2112802,"title","Residents raise Lake Cavanaugh safety, Big Lake stormwater and permitting fee concerns during public comment","audioSeconds",375,"startMs",3131000,"endMs",3506000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112802-53dfc308ac88f8578b9f5645de3d403b&start=3131&end=3506","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112802-53dfc308ac88f8578b9f5645de3d403b/thumbnail_3131000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6672923/Skagit-County/Washington/Residents-raise-Lake-Cavanaugh-safety-Big-Lake-stormwater-and-permitting-fee-concerns-during-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6672923-397079fe57932d45f4f940147ec57856/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440193&Signature=EmcMiTvEOJ5ySIYUv1BGXbBSi~KycAq5d~NxUVRkKI5k3tvrmZjJbvf5d-7zWA2mJdlmPGZKGmbebeN3wqT6iZ2te0tZ9-ZaBzcpA1nRdw70Vn1fHFOgm3KzGr2C5YuqkquR0pPXDX7qwFjI5CeTus5F7qMqYqw7JKR8w7CupNmr~k3yAU8TQ0~B55K92dBeSG6umR8ZulDiEJ4cmMGpHsUH1gmnSeO1zJ~mG4~h0O6PGPbaEzLI~XTR96nJLFtiHpm2dg-bbIXWW-EKxKrXJpHf8aIrsNZQ9pNQwJlFIoRTp-NDsgwHirOkze6aZ5euhFkAz863WZdFuN~vM-sCJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Skagit County","date","2025-01-14T00:00:00Z","article","Several residents used the Skagit County Board of County Commissioners’ public comment period on Jan. 14 to raise safety, environmental and permitting-transparency concerns.

Lorita Humble, who identified herself as a Lake Cavanaugh resident, asked the board to prioritize reopening North Shore Road and asked whether population or density should determine investment when there is a risk to life. “Does density or area population really apply when it comes to possible loss of life, or are the Lake Cavanaugh residents expendable?” she said, noting limited escape routes and a longer-term closure of North Shore.

A separate commenter (Jan) presented photos and video and said land‑clearing work at the Overlook Crest development had begun despite an outstanding stormwater management plan. Jan said the county had received an assessment from Dr. Richard Horner, a civil and environmental‑engineering expert, that the construction phase “poses substantial risk to Big Lake through soil erosion and the transport of sediments and the phosphorus they carry.” Jan said she submitted videos and images to staff to illustrate siltation and exposed dirt roads that drain toward Big Lake.

Connie Cryer raised concerns about how county code and fee schedules are presented to the public in relation to hearings‑examiner reconsiderations and appeals. Cryer said she found a discrepancy between the code text and the fee schedule adopted in August and told the board that the county charged $750 for a hearings‑examiner reconsideration and $1,000 for an appeal. “When we applied for a reconsideration, we were told that, oh, you didn't apply for the fee. Well, the fee is $750 for a reconsideration. It's another $1,000 for an appeal,” she said, and added that code updates were not appearing properly on the public website and that a public‑records request made Dec. 3 remained unfulfilled beyond a 30‑day acknowledgement.

Commissioners acknowledged the comments and directed staff to follow up. Board members noted that the public‑comment period is separate from hearings but encouraged residents who raised permitting and code issues to work with county staff and the planning department so the matters can be reviewed outside the limited three‑minute comment window.

The comments signaled several administrative follow-ups for staff, including confirming the status of the Overlook Crest stormwater permit and any enforcement or monitoring needs, checking the public code publication status and fee schedules online, responding to the outstanding public‑records request and assessing whether additional safety or grant funding can be pursued to reopen and maintain North Shore Road at Lake Cavanaugh.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Skagit County - Record of the Proceedings - Tuesday Session - Jan 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","During the Jan. 14 public comment period residents urged the county to reopen North Shore Road at Lake Cavanaugh for safety, relayed expert concerns about land clearing at Overlook Crest and Big Lake, and flagged inconsistencies and high costs in hearings-examiner reconsideration and appeal fees.","taxTitle","Skagit County, Washington","taxId",5125,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6672927,"Skagit County extends moratorium on event venues on agricultural land for six months",432,4166000,4598000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112802-53dfc308ac88f8578b9f5645de3d403b&start=4166&end=4598","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112802-53dfc308ac88f8578b9f5645de3d403b/thumbnail_4166000.jpg","/articles/6672927/Skagit-County/Washington/Skagit-County-extends-moratorium-on-event-venues-on-agricultural-land-for-six-months","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6672927-9f6eaddce803983f673e7102804e3a17/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440193&Signature=nmu0O1qcvvDXO1qx6sRzw2MghOePulbwJxyqsaf~iOidefaY~XmgdC9YTXFhzctH~fyujx4cgifnzYdwnMrLawYd7IUjoGTqZYgw1wGrPnYCjcsRr4-CulLhzNxqFIHn~XbvB7QaMZxl229MmSNKlM28R0kfcTW2T564iMjzMsNA4eVhOkj1sUOZ2~0HVVCGPND5T9pc0vRJOzOXwJ32sHLRqAAxyEBluYaH92HW16leBNW2~ihImGoJQPbS6gfF~~1yRIftZGhQC9oPLG57FoiuXvrcwhMcFiKkKdxP2oya56AMsjDUQjKxtfOK6HC0-VnYsDQ70Z3ocIgv1HpZ-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Skagit County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Jan. 14 to extend an interim ordinance that temporarily prohibits new wedding, concert and other gathering venues on agricultural-NRL designated land while the planning commission completes work on a permanent ordinance.

Prosecuting attorney staff summarized the proposal and the board voted to extend the moratorium for another six months. The extension continues a voluntary compliance pathway for existing businesses; the county set a May 30, 2025 deadline for operators who want to submit a complete voluntary-compliance application to the planning department.

Will Hony of the prosecuting attorney’s office told commissioners the board first adopted the moratorium on Jan. 29 of last year and that the extension is intended to allow time for the planning commission to craft a permanent ordinance. Hony also summarized the county’s outreach and said most written comments he reviewed supported the extension.

Hony discussed recent legal guidance from the Washington State Supreme Court and its effect on local planning. “What the decision was from the Washington Supreme Court, in summary, it was very protective of ag land. It held that, once land is designated as agricultural land, it can only be used for agriculture even if it's sitting fallow,” he said, and added that the ruling provides direction on when accessory tourism uses can be allowed in an agricultural zone.

Commissioner Browning moved to adopt the interim ordinance; the motion was seconded and the board approved it unanimously. The recorded action carries a requirement that voluntary compliance applications be complete on submission; Hony said an application submitted on the final day that is incomplete would not satisfy the deadline. “The interim ordinance specifies a complete application,” he told the board.

The board and staff discussed outreach to existing operators. Commissioners said the extension is intended to protect agricultural land while giving operators a clear, time‑limited path to come into compliance if they choose. Prosecuting attorney staff said the county will notify known venues and conduct outreach to ensure affected businesses are aware of the voluntary compliance deadline and required materials.

Legal and implementation notes: the county’s action responds in part to the state Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Growth Management Act as it applies to accessory uses on agricultural land; the planning commission is drafting a permanent ordinance on ag tourism that will come back to the commissioners for consideration.","The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Jan. 14 to extend an interim ordinance that temporarily bars weddings, concert and similar event venues on lands designated agricultural-NRL, while the planning commission continues work on a permanent ordinance and voluntary compliance process remains open through May 30, 2025.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6672931,"Skagit County assessor cites strong vertical equity in property assessments",1534,130000,1664000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112802-53dfc308ac88f8578b9f5645de3d403b&start=130&end=1664","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112802-53dfc308ac88f8578b9f5645de3d403b/thumbnail_130000.jpg","/articles/6672931/Skagit-County/Washington/Skagit-County-assessor-cites-strong-vertical-equity-in-property-assessments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6672931-48709fe8373c6c1c2855be4c486b96f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440193&Signature=hcwS9NOcRVVgMQEyT1iBiFYo0a4uexHy8x1DtDhHBDqf1LYiuBNrctePFWML1s7wsMLx5xbIyOBOaSECRvxWYq3oLt7u9NO7mJ1DLTsBtSU0-4d94txptN~FRGgRMifYm-IFwDF4T01Zqv1VZJs3zbaiKJqyledf4CANCbqDlJqDwxwesGJkqlMGMCzqXbsZG6pTI3z2GZ4kd13jue7VnGHDr~tEPnAWBhlKPGihF~d3sq4z8Bv6HwgHQDm7U5JbAefomOu1Jx9qThmw6iaXBSI5XzlIcJGLAuBVZd0y~8y5z~SUnPKPe3LtFgTfKxnMQImRQrZO6fk1eczvHKUCGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Skagit County Assessor Danny Hagan told the Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 14 that the county’s property-assessment program shows measurable progress in achieving vertical equity across property value ranges.

Hagan said the presentation, which drew questions from commissioners, reviewed common appraisal measures and third‑party analyses and showed that Skagit County’s recent ratio studies and statistical measures place the county among the top-performing jurisdictions in Washington.

Hagan said the review focused on “vertical equity and property assessments” and that the office uses sales-ratio studies, the Washington State Department of Revenue reports and tools from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy to evaluate proportionality across value tiers. He told the board that, in the Mount Vernon School District analysis cited in his presentation, staff reviewed 12,695 residential parcels and 379 sales — about a 3 percent sales sample — and adjusted assessed values after analysis to raise the overall sales ratio from 89.6 percent to 93.9 percent.

Why it matters: Vertical equity measures whether higher-value properties bear a proportionate share of the tax burden compared with lower-value properties. Hagan told the board that if high-value properties are systematically underassessed, the overall system can become regressive and shift a larger relative burden to lower-value homeowners.

Hagan highlighted multiple metrics the assessor’s office uses to track fairness. For 2023, he reported a coefficient of dispersion (COD) of 10.974 for the county — inside the industry benchmark range the office cited — and a price-related differential (PRD) of about 1.01. He said the office’s price-related bias (PRB) was 0.003, “extremely close to 0,” a measure Hagan said indicates little systematic bias in assessments by value tier.

Hagan said the county supplements Department of Revenue metrics with the Lincoln Institute’s vertical equity application for additional third‑party validation. “This free, user friendly application has since become an invaluable resource for Skagit,” he said, and the assessor’s office has posted the county’s vertical equity report to the assessor’s website.

Commissioners pressed on methodology and limits. Commissioner Wiesen asked about sample size and the role of sales data: “All these ratios and formulas and everything, they’re all based on the fact that a sale took place. Correct? Correct.” Hagan described how the office groups properties into larger “buckets” so there are enough sales for reliable statistical analysis and said staff choose bucket boundaries to balance specificity with sample size.

Hagan also described challenges that can affect vertical equity analysis: limited sales of high‑value or unique properties, market variability for custom features, appeal-activity differences across owners and resource constraints in smaller jurisdictions. He said Skagit County has invested in technology, staff training and regional collaboration to address those challenges and to help maintain public trust. He specifically mentioned use of street‑level imagery and the county’s Assessment/CAMA system (PACS) supported by Harris Govern, and he thanked Chief Deputy Annette Devoe for operational support.

Hagan closed by emphasizing continuous improvement and outreach. “We are committed to equity. This is not saying that we have arrived but we are gonna continue to work at it,” he said, and encouraged property owners to use online tools such as Property 1 Stop and the appeals process when they believe an assessment is incorrect.

The presentation materials and the county’s Department of Revenue–sourced metrics are posted on the assessor’s website, and commissioners asked staff to keep the board informed of any follow-up community outreach or methodological changes.","Skagit County Assessor Danny Hagan told commissioners the county's assessment metrics show improving vertical equity across value tiers, citing Department of Revenue and Lincoln Institute analyses and listing specific statistical measures and next steps for transparency and appeals.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents raise Lake Cavanaugh safety, Big Lake stormwater and permitting fee concerns during public comment

Skagit County extends moratorium on event venues on agricultural land for six months

Skagit County assessor cites strong vertical equity in property assessments