Evergreen Islands appealed the recently adopted Skagit County Comprehensive Plan for 2025-2045 because it fails to prevent urban sprawl as required in the Growth Management Act. The Updated Comprehensive Plan allows for accessory dwelling units or “ADUs” outside urban areas. Evergreen Islands maintains that allowing ADUs in rural residential zones fails to prevent urban sprawl and contain rural development and thereby fails to comply with the state’s Growth Management Act. This appeal was filed in August before the Growth Management Hearings Board of Western Washington.
What is an Accessory Dwelling Unit?
An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a small, self-contained residential unit located on the same lot as an existing single-family home.
An ADU has all the basic facilities needed for day-to-day living independent of the main home, including a kitchen, sleeping area, and a bathroom. As the term “accessory” implies, ADUs are generally defined to be smaller in size and prominence than the main residence on the lot. Some definitions include specific size limits, and a locations on the lot.
Increasing housing density in the rural areas of the county raises concerns regarding water availability, septic system and drain field loads, transportation systems, emergency response and conversion of rural lands.