SUMMER CHALLENGE GRANT !  DONATE TODAY!  Friends' donors have offered to match your donations, so send your check today or go to Network for Good and double your contribution!  Thanks to both the "challengers" and our members.

FEMA Hearings about new 100 Year Flood Maps and Levels begin August 12th.

Mount Vernon Shoreline Master Program Planning Commission Public Hearing - Tuesday, August 3, 2010, 7:00 pm at 1805 Continental Pl., Mount Vernon.  For more on the draft program click on MV-SMP.  The deadline for written comments is Monday, August 2, 2010 at 4:30 pm by fax (360) 336-6283; regular  mail to City of MV, Community & Economic Development Dept., Box 809, Mount Vernon, WA 98273; delivered to MV City Hall at 910 Cleveland Ave., between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday; or email to elizabethh@mountvernonwa.gov.

LOSING SKAGIT RESOURCES ONE BITE AT A TIME - State agencies and private projects are converting Skagit's resource lands (farms and forests) piece by piece.  Skagit County has permitted virtually all of these projects, citing the State's authority over local matters.  But the State Grown Management Act (GMA) gave land use decisions to Counties.  When is Skagit County going to take a look at the "big picture" and stop these conversions?  Write the Commissioners and tell them you do not favor the loss of any additional resource lands.  Click here to contact Skagit County Board of County Commissioners.

Alternative Futures name changed to Envision Skagit.  Go to Skagit Planning & Development Services for information on the Citizens Committee and public participation in choosing Skagit's future. For more info click on  Envision Skagit

Bay View Ridge Community Planning Workshops and other information click on Bay View Ridge Planned Unit Development (PUD)

Friends Drops Shoreline Appeal of Clear Valley  Mitigation Bank.  Is news coverage of controversial development projects fair?  Read these and see what you think.  Skagit Valley Herald 1st Editorial;  Skagit Valley Herald 2nd editorial and Friends Editorial reply.

Contrary to the news headline, Friends received $30,000 as partial payment for legal fees already spent on this appeal and withdrew the Shorelines Hearing Board appeal of the bank.  The settlement agreement provides that should the bank pay the County for its grading permit (up to $1.4 million) Friends will receive another $200,000 to establish a Citizen Land Use Education Program.  If the permit is not "pulled" the project will not go forward.   Friends still has legal bills outstanding, so please send your legal contribution today.  Thanks! 

 History of Appeals     click here.

For background information on the Skagit County Hearing Examiner and Board of County Commissioner appeals please click here.

Shorelines Hearings Board Appeal Filed but not Heard. Dept. of Ecology (DOE) okayed Clear Valley's Shoreline permits on Feb. 19, 2010 before reading FOSC's information (65 pages of info and maps personally delivered). Click here to read Friends information letter to DOE (no attachments).  Click here for Friends letter to DOE regarding their decision to approve the permit. FOSC filed the SHB appeal.  The Hearing was never held due to FOSC settlement with Clear Valley.