Guemes Island Planning and Advisory Committee Mission The mission of the Guemes Island Planning Advisory Committee is to initiate and complete a subarea plan* for Guemes Island. *Subarea plans are detailed land use plans for smaller geographical areas. History of GIPAC and its actions This article first appeared in the March 2003 edition of The Evening Star. Guemes Sub Area Planning Committee Recognized by County Commissioners After 12 years of frustration and false starts, the Guemes Island Planning Advisory Committee has finally been acknowledged as the legitimate voice of sub-area planning for the island. On February 10th the Board of County Commissioners signed a resolution recognizing GIPAC ìas the community-based representative for purposes of seeking planning funds and initiating a sub area plan for Guemes Island. The only caveat is that the committee must submit a scope of work and timeline for review by the commissioners once money has been secured for creating the plan. Sub-area planning is the more detailed planning emanating from the countywide plan adopted by Skagit County in 1997 under the State Growth Management Act. Sub area plans are specific to small areas such as defined watersheds, communities or islands. Noting that Guemes Island fit all three categories, the community formed GIPAC and produced a plan in 1991--six years before the countywide plan was adopted. The island plan languished on a shelf somewhere in the county administration building and never saw the light of day. Now it appears it will be dusted off, revised and re-submitted once planning funds are raised and a professional planner hired. In its application, GIPAC said community involvement would be a priority through the following steps:
Currently serving
on the committee are Joost Businger, Vic Garcia, Roz Glasser, Bob Henderson,
Marianne Kooiman, Steve Orsini, Howard Pellett, Tim Rosenhan ©2003 The Evening Star |
