June 26, 2003

Mike Minor, Chair

Mount Vernon Planning Commission

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Dear Mr. Minor,

Friends of Skagit County is committed to preserving the rural character of Skagit County and promoting sustainable, resource-based industries. Toward that end we have a long record of supporting agriculture in Skagit County by opposing unnecessary annexations of farmland and working to make our cities and towns more livable.

We are opposed to expansion for the sake of expansion. We are in favor of city codes and policies that direct development toward existing communities, allow for and encourage compact building designs, and create a range of housing choices. We know Mount Vernon is moving in that direction and we support you in that endeavor. We strongly encourage the City of Mount Vernon to take a good look at its code to see if it could be improved to encourage smart growth within the existing City limits. You may find that the 2020 growth can be accommodated within the existing city limits if more housing types were allowed and encouraged.

There is no justification in the Countywide Planning Policies for expanding Mount Vernon’s UGA toward the south. Unless and until a real need for more C/I can be demonstrated, there is no reason to do so. Friends of Skagit County is opposed to the proposed expansion.

We are also opposed to proposals that would take farm land out of production. So we do not support Mount Vernon including the Mitzel property in the UGA at this time.

In conclusion, we feel that expansion of Mount Vernon’s UGA is not needed and would be in violation of the state’s Growth Management Act. We encourage you to vote to keep the boundaries as they are.

Most sincerely,

June Kite, President

cc: Roxanne Michael and Mayor Richendrfer