UPDATE/CORRECTION Billboard at Conway I-5 exit proposed

UPDATE AND CORRECTION:

Skagit County Planning & Development Services updated its “notice of development application with optional SEPA DNS” for Pacific Outdoor Advertising erecting a sign at the I-5 Conway intersection Feb. 7. The notice now states construction of “a 2-sided static (not digital) billboard” has been applied for. That changes the original Jan. 31 application’s a “2-sided/faced Static electronic billboard sign” was applied for.

The deadline for written public comments is now 4:30 p.m. Feb. 24, advanced from Feb. 17.

Only environmental impacts of the proposal may be addressed.

This updates the Feb. 8 story in the Weekly News

The Conway I-5 interchange will have an billboard sign on Cedardale Road “40-foot tall 10-foot wide by 30-foot long (300 square feet total)” owned by Pacific Outdoor Advertising if Skagit County planning staff approve an administrative special use permit application filed in January.

The public comment period closes 4:30 p.m. Feb. 24. Submit comments via the PDS website under the “recent legal notices” tab. Email correspondence will not be accepted. A public hearing is not required and there will not be one.

Comments in opposition have already been submitted by Feb. 6, said Kevin Cricchio, County senior planner.

Bird watchers and others are organizing opposition, including La Conner residents. One outreach email called the sign an “affront to human sensibilities, but imagine the disruption to the migratory birds who visit our area. And of course it’s one more blow to night skies. Remember when we used to be able to see the stars here?”

She wrote the signs “are horribly disruptive and I cannot imagine the confusion they will cause for birds.”

The property address is 21049 Cedardale Road, Mount Vernon.

The application, including its environmental checklist and site plan, can be reviewed. There has been a SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) review: County staff anticipate issuing an MDNS (mitigated determination of nonsignificance). The DNS process is being utilized.

To become a party of record submit written comments, including a mailing address, to the Skagit County Planning & Development Services Department.

The application and case file may be reviewed at the planning department, 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon 98273. A decision on this application will be made within 120 days from the date of completeness.

Information: Kevin Cricchio, 360-416-1423; [email protected].

Submit comments: skagitcounty.net/pdscomments. The proposal ID is PL23-0007.