Ward v. Board of Skagit County Commissioners

Property owners Ernest and Patti Ward ("the Wards”) sought a variance and special use permit to operate a business from their residence. The Superior Court dismissed their land use petition for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. We reject the Wards’ contention that applicants and owners of land need not exhaust their administrative remedies prior to filing a land use petition under the Land Use Petition Act (LUPA), RCW 36.70C.005-.900, and affirm the trial court’s decision.

FACTS

On April 20, 1995, the Wards filed applications for a variance and a special use permit with the Skagit…