Skagit County commissioners hear appeal on permit issued to Skagit Golf and Country Club

The Skagit County Board of Commissioners is considering an appeal of a building permit issued to Skagit Golf and Country Club.

The club west of Burlington was granted a permit from the county in March 2025 to remove a maintenance shed and replace it with a new "turf care center."

The maintenance shed was about 4,000 square feet, and the turf care center will be 10,500 square feet. The turf care center will be located at 12352 Eleventh Tee Lane.

Dean Shaughnessy argued in a 2025 appeal to the county hearing examiner that the county was wrong in issuing the permit.

Based on its State Environmental Policy Act review, the county issued a Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance, meaning that the project has probable environmental impacts, but that the impacts could be mitigated.

Shaughnessy and another appellant argued several other points regarding the county's process of issuing the permit.

The hearing examiner denied the appeal in February. Shaughnessy then appealed to the Board of Commissioners.

At a Monday hearing, Commissioner Peter Browning recused himself because he is a member of Skagit Golf and Country Club, he said.

Shaughnessy told the commissioners Monday that he filed the appeal because the new turf care center would have a negative impact on his house's value, which is near the proposed turf care center. He has lived there since 2012.

"I filed the appeal because of the depreciative value impact to my residence if a proposed industrial facility is constructed next to it," Shaughnessy said.

Shaughnessy's lawyer, Julie Herber, said the building permit should not have been issued because the building does not comply with Bayview Ridge zoning, and should require a special use permit.

Herber said the county issued the permit without considering that the proposed turf care center will be used to store gasoline, which is considered a hazardous material.

There are multiple residences, including Shaughnessy's, within 500 feet of the proposed turf care center, Herber said.

Skagit Golf and Country Club lawyer Carolyn Gilbert said concerns about the hazardous materials at the turf care center are unfounded.

For industrial buildings with the principal purpose of storing and treating hazardous waste, no treatment or storage of hazardous materials is permitted within 500 feet of the nearest residence, according to the county's Bayview Ridge industrial code.

Gilbert said that because the turf care center's primary purpose is not for storing or treating hazardous waste, this regulation does not apply.

Skagit County lawyer Jason D'Avignon said the proposed building enhances the golf course, and is in line with the county code.

"When we adopted our current zoning, we recognized that the golf course existed and that a residential neighborhood was built around that golf course, and made golf courses a use there on Bayview Ridge residential. The building that they've asked to build is an accessory use," D'Avignon said.

Gilbert said a special use permit is not needed for the proposed turf care center.

"The building serves only to maintain the existing golf course. It's located on the same tax parcel, and it has no independent function that would otherwise change the primary use of that tax parcel," Gilbert said. "As a lawful accessory structure to an existing golf course, it does not require special use review."

The board of commissioners will render its decision on Monday.

A Land Use Petition Act appeal has been filed by Shaughnessy in Skagit County Superior Court.

The court case is paused until the board of commissioners renders its decision.

The Land Use Petition Act appeal is set to resume on May 29.

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This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 7:06 AM.