SWIFT Center
- Encourage the private sector to create and sustain jobs at the SWIFT Center benefitting all of Skagit County and its citizens and that are compatible with all of the other goals
- Continue and promote public recreational use of the property
- Protect the environmentally sensitive areas of the property, in particular Hansen Creek
- Acknowledge and protect the historic significance of Northern State Hospital to the local community, the wider region and the State of Washington
- Acknowledge and respect the neighboring Upper Skagit Indian Tribal Nation's interests in the property
DATE
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DESCRIPTION
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6/29/2018
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12/18/2015
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Notice of City Council Decision regarding the adoption of a Planned Action Ordinance and Subarea Plan for the Center for Innovation and Technology |
11/19/2015
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Notice of Public Meetings regarding The Center for Innovation and Technology – Subarea Plan, Planned Action Ordinance and Amendments to Chapter 17.32 (Public Zone) of the Sedro-Woolley Municipal Code - December 2, 2015 at 7:00 PM and December 9, 2015 at 7:00 PM |
11/16/2015
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Draft Ordinance approving a Planned Action for the Center for Innovation and Technology (formerly known as the Northern State Campus), including Attachment A and Staff Report
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11/12/2015
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Notice of Availability of the Northern State Campus Planned Action Final Environmental Impact Statement and Subarea Plan
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10/26/2015
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Notice of Public Meeting regarding the Center for Innovation and Technology in the Pacific Northwest - November 3, 2015 at 6:30 PM
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9/18/2015
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Notice of Availability and Public Hearing for the Northern State Campus Draft Environmental Impact Statement (body, appendices), Subarea Plan and DEIS Public Hearing Presentation |
9/10/2015
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On September 9, 2015 the City Council passed Ordinance 1822-15 approving the annexation of the Northern State Campus property and five residential properties, adding approximately 230 acres into the City limits. The annexation of the Northern State Campus is a necessary step to support future redevelopment activities of the campus.
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8/24/2015
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Notice of Public Hearing regarding Northern State Annexation with Area Map - September 9, 2015
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6/3/2015
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5/19/2015
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Northern State Scoping Meeting Public Comment Transcripts and Video - May 6, 2015
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5/19/2015
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Northern State Scoping Meeting Presentation - May 6, 2015
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5/12/2015
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Northern State Campus Adaptive Re-use Study - May 7, 2015
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4/16/2015
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Notice of Scoping Meeting - May 6, 2015
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4/16/2015
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Planning Commission Agenda - April 21, 2015
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4/10/2015
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3/30/2015
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Notice of Public Meeting regarding Northern State Annexation - April 8, 2015
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3/30/2015
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Notice of Public Meeting regarding North Cascades Gateway Center Planning Process - April 8, 2015
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2/13/2015
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Initial Press Release - New Use Proposed for Portion of Northern State Hospital Campus
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Background
Since the Northern State Hospital closed in 1973, the State of Washington and the local community have explored opportunities for adaptive re-use of this 225 acre property. The hospital was developed based on a master plan by the Olmsted Brothers that remains largely intact and has been deemed significant enough to be included on the National Register of Historic Places.The Northern State Property has been owned by the State of Washington since the hospital was constructed in 1912. It is currently managed by the Department of Enterprise Services, which leases buildings and grounds to a number of organizations, including the federal Department of Labor for a Job Corps training and education facility and Pioneer Human Services, a non-profit organization that provides chemical dependency services.
Approximately 40 percent of the existing buildings are unoccupied. A number of historical buildings have been demolished over time and newer buildings that are not compatible with the original master plan have been constructed. In 2010, Washington State expressed a desire to surplus the property and look for a local champion to acquire and redevelop the site for a greater community propose.
A three party partnership consisting of Skagit County, the City of Sedro-Woolley, and the Port of Skagit are exploring this opportunity.
Current Activities
Following on the recommendations of the Northern State Adaptive Re-use Study, there will be three interrelated actions conducted by the local governments in 2015. The planning efforts will support the potential for Janicki Bioenergy research and development facilities on the Northern State Property, but take a broader look at the entire property and multiple uses. Before any new uses envisioned in the reuse process will be permitted at the Northern State Property, the property needs to be annexed into the city of Sedro-Woolley, a subarea plan must be approved and environmental review must be completed. Below is a more information on those three actions.
- Annexation of the Property into the City of Sedro-Woolley – The Property is currently within the Sedro-Woolley Urban Growth Area (UGA). Annexation would bring the Property within the municipal boundary and the land use regulatory authority of the City. The Washington State Department of Enterprise Services has initiated the petition for annexation. The City Council will review the annexation proposal and has the authority to approve the annexation.
Recent documents related to annexation proposal: - DES Letter of Intent to Petition for Annexation
- Sedro-Woolley Annexation Notice and Proposed Annexation Area Map
- S-W Annexation Staff Memo & Executed Resolution
- Letter of Support from Fire District
- Letter of Support from Skagit County
- Washington State Boundary Review Board File 2015-01 regarding Northern State Area Annexation
- Prepare a Subarea Plan – The Subarea Plan will clearly show the community vision for development of the property over the next 20 years. It will be based on public input and the goals of the local governments. The plan will be adopted as part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The Port will partner with the City to prepare the Subarea Plan. The Subarea Plan will be reviewed by the Planning Commission, at which time the public will have an opportunity to review and comment on the proposal.
- Conduct Planned Action Environmental Review – The purpose of the planned action environmental impact statement is to perform the public input and environmental review of the proposal before any permits are submitted. This allows the public to define what uses may be reasonable at the property and address the impacts before a project is proposed.
The City has taken the lead authority for review under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The Port will partner with the City to prepare the environmental impact statement. The EIS will address the potential impacts of the reuse proposal to both the built environment and the natural environment. See the EIS Scoping notice for more details.
Recent documents related to Planned Action Environmental Review:
Property Ownership CHANGES
The State of Washington transferred ownership of the Property to the Port of Skagit in June of 2018, with the exception of the land used by the Washington State National Guard, which remains in state ownership. The City has accepted an offer from the Port to donate the portion of the Property that has historically been used for the Kids Fishing Derby to the City for use as a city park. The Pond will continue to host the annual fishing derby. Access to the pond will be improved, parking will be paved and a restroom, playground, basketball court and sand volleyball court are planned.
Existing Tenants
Two of the current tenants on the Property, Pioneer Human Services and North Sound Mental Health Administration provide chemical dependency and mental health services. Skagit County and the North Sound Mental Health Administration are forming a working group to explore new models for providing chemical dependency and mental health services that are increasingly being provided in concert as 'behavioral health services'. More information will be provided about that effort as it moves forward.
For more information, see the Port of Skagit Northern State Adaptive Re-Use Study project page.