[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6082146,"mediaKeyId","2939144-6d043f199226afe6a55efbc313bf8bec","parentId",2939144,"title","Anacortes planning commission reviews draft climate element with 15 goals and 59 policies","audioSeconds",6784,"startMs",452125,"endMs",7236485,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939144-6d043f199226afe6a55efbc313bf8bec&start=452&end=7236","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939144-6d043f199226afe6a55efbc313bf8bec/thumbnail_452125.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6082146/Anacortes/Skagit-County/Washington/Anacortes-planning-commission-reviews-draft-climate-element-with-15-goals-and-59-policies","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6082146-bf9856dcba382fa06331fc089354a8b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152577&Signature=YcQoeoZjOPpwnbm~6ZNGXVYQkflKq39ixbaFLCXAr4JsZ0nnp03SbBydbkpTm-ojvHar5ex8Hv9qcYTEzXXKfIw4A0p2qIjqex8eh4B3bLIv3K-BWFWxQRjTeN7vg3R6gjz-kX-4yelNU3ya0aJIszNtmQzQ1lhPvM5uZ2~klMDcDLJU1D2f1Jk9NXHXERhV~qWbKkxbeKM7G-gjPGmBOCLM3k397ALW6hJw~x9PNj190xcn6tfWJgJYjdIx9Parw85HQYwj9PE1YgpvpEy1vARN~U26p~ah3Chbh3Y-LsPSoRBNiO~EMGPQT0QzOX3SLOqSSBoegqdYK1Hxj6vWBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Anacortes, WA","date","2025-04-10T03:42:04.893Z","article","The Anacortes Planning Commission on April 9 reviewed a draft climate element for the 2025 comprehensive plan that consultants said contains 15 goals and 59 policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing community resilience.

The draft, presented by Katie Saunders of Makers and supported by Beth Miller of Parametrics and city staff director John Coleman, lays out measures tied to state guidance to reduce emissions from building energy and transportation while protecting vulnerable communities.

The draft matters because Washington law and Commerce guidance require a greenhouse-gas emissions reduction subelement and resilience planning; the document is intended to show how local measures can contribute to the state’s net‑zero-by‑2050 trajectory while prioritizing benefits to overburdened populations.

Consultants told the commission that building energy and transportation are the largest local emission sources and described the most effective local levers. Beth Miller said, “One of them is reducing, is basically fuel switching in in buildings from natural gas furnaces to electrical heat pumps,” and emphasized local renewables and vehicle‑miles‑traveled reductions as major contributors to citywide cuts in emissions. Saunders said the draft focuses mainly on goals while policies are provided in the packet and that some near‑term “guidance” or targets for city actions (for example, fleet electrification) will be developed as a follow‑up.

Key proposals in the draft include:
- Electrification and efficiency in buildings: programmatic support for weatherization, incentives for energy‑efficient new construction, and coordination on converting space and water heat from fossil fuel to electric systems where feasible.
- Transportation and VMT reduction: land‑use and multimodal measures to lower vehicle miles traveled, improved transit coordination with Skagit Transit, and planning to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
- Local renewables and resilience: promoting rooftop solar and other distributed generation, supporting small‑scale storage where feasible, and coordination with regional utilities on energy infrastructure resilience.
- Natural and shoreline resilience: policies to protect and restore coastal ecosystems, riparian vegetation and the Anacortes Community Forest Lands to increase adaptation capacity.
- Environmental justice: prioritizing actions that protect low‑income, elderly and other sensitive populations and avoid shifting costs onto vulnerable residents.

Commissioners and consultants repeatedly tied the draft to state rules. Saunders and Miller said the Commerce guidance and House Bill 1181 create minimum element requirements; Saunders noted the city will meet the minimums and track how each proposed goal or policy satisfies the guidance.

Commissioners asked several detailed questions: several members sought clearer cross‑references and a glossary of technical terms; Commissioner Martin asked whether the city should temper ambitions about being a “regional leader” and whether the goal text should be tightened; multiple commissioners pressed consultants on the cost and equity implications of electrification for lower‑income households. Coleman and Saunders repeatedly said the draft does not create mandates for individual homeowners but aims to identify programmatic tools and partnerships to reduce costs and support equitable transitions.

Battery storage emerged as the meeting’s most contested subject. Commissioner Martin said, “My read of the people of Anacortes is that having a storage facility for batteries is not something that we would be too agreeable to,” and other commissioners asked for public discussion and zoning rules before the city signals support for large installations. Consultants and staff noted a range of storage scales—from small building‑scale batteries and microgrids to larger utility projects—and that Pacific Power / PSE had recommended resilience coordination. A Mount Vernon project size of about 22 acres was mentioned in discussion as an example of larger‑scale facilities being contested in the region.

Commissioners also raised the ongoing political and legal controversy around electrification. One commissioner referred to Initiative 2066 and the larger debate over limiting or preserving gas appliances; Saunders said the draft language focused on energy efficiency and feasibility and that the city would avoid prescriptive local mandates in the climate element.

Next steps: staff and consultants said the commission’s feedback will be incorporated and the climate element goals and policies will be posted with a more complete supporting chapter (background, inventories, vulnerability maps and near‑term strategic actions). The commission intends to hold a public hearing on the comprehensive plan elements at its next meeting and the consultants plan further work on target metrics and implementation guidance for priority actions.

The presentation and debate flagged outstanding items for staff: clearer cross‑references to the Shoreline Master Program, a glossary of technical terms, explicit tracking of how each policy meets Commerce minimum requirements, and a public discussion of battery‑storage scale and siting.

The draft climate element and the associated tracking spreadsheet are available in the commission packet; staff said they will return with a fuller draft chapter and suggested near‑term priority actions for implementation.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Anacortes - Planning Commission Meeting, 4/9/25 (Live Broadcast)","oneSentenceSummary","The Anacortes Planning Commission on April 9 reviewed a draft climate element for the 2025 comprehensive plan that consultants said contains 15 goals and 59 policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing community resilience.","taxTitle","Anacortes, Skagit County, Washington","taxId",51056,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6082137,"Planning commission excuses two members, approves minutes from Oct. 30, 2024",90,311780,402025,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939144-6d043f199226afe6a55efbc313bf8bec&start=311&end=402","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939144-6d043f199226afe6a55efbc313bf8bec/thumbnail_311780.jpg","/articles/6082137/Anacortes/Skagit-County/Washington/Planning-commission-excuses-two-members-approves-minutes-from-Oct-30-2024","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6082137-7499130835c3e7a1fe990b32bfc890fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152577&Signature=TR2d9ZlcR83YscSzo6Lhy6WFBDuDQEdxjRBjC6ERXRuBKjDEqkKBY2hsl9rRULo5FgznIjyI2Cl4b4yJ2CQ1WtGF-n8nbFJW2Wlt9RAdvr~BMmUKmszcXuYskUzfOe4z13w5JEGNC~nd6kVHM1h7GLZG6rkXCYMMBVe0Yo0YX8UtsgYH4Z1KQgUvjjO9eZZkqq-XnmzaaCKzE6uGwBQrZx5nLlQ6OTe3wnQN-B4NsZcbH2fw8SYNw21AWgpRodXXCcYIbDPYTwIxLLmbODLGQ5bfnzOOKRdXXLPlmMv1ICmRcZa9DWZo8RrlUssYWEYunt1fm-zdNgMr81z~J2nhmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the April 9, 2025 Anacortes Planning Commission meeting commissioners voted to excuse two members and approved minutes from a past meeting.

Commissioner Stoneman moved to excuse Commissioners Currier and McCombs from the April 9 meeting; Commissioner Dretske seconded and the motion carried with the commissioners present indicating “aye.”

A separate, later motion to approve minutes from the Oct. 30, 2024 meeting was moved and seconded during the meeting; the commission voted to approve the minutes as written.

These were procedural actions recorded at the start of the meeting and are reflected in the meeting minutes for April 9.","At the April 9 meeting the Anacortes Planning Commission voted to excuse two commissioners who had notified staff and approved minutes from the Oct. 30, 2024 meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6082141,"Planning commissioners review environment and conservation edits, cross‑referencing climate element and SMP",1266,7244510,8511135,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2939144-6d043f199226afe6a55efbc313bf8bec&start=7244&end=8511","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2939144-6d043f199226afe6a55efbc313bf8bec/thumbnail_7244510.jpg","/articles/6082141/Anacortes/Skagit-County/Washington/Planning-commissioners-review-environment-and-conservation-edits-crossreferencing-climate-element-and-SMP","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6082141-a88ecb16f0cd488f632a6dc891bfcc10/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152577&Signature=KrV7rh2lP~Snv8s40OtsRNbXObknkvGF9ZcejcZXQlyvFcXOS6KELf6fe4DI1c-NzvwpnrVbN~RZe2MfJXOxIx2YVoBcIBcyPYNUnUuUZ9C~gltK19bEdOSXYKx3wnot9ZNXwBjNc0NF2WuUtJMVsPy2RSXB0X-rhfVuROCmvZhKgA207zI7la9FdhxLb9vZBpgYUax4vph5VXT2TcD6DdCMyPr3J3bAzSOEn9Li4lJSdxVf1OlaCT6mh7Dmr9m-Ta6PnhBjhESEbhD8FGwbKt2OeewLTY24Mc4GTh8ZVJFWYXEAAUO6DYRLPtLHJfuYpn6shH9ZRye2l3tlX22EiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Anacortes Planning Commission on April 9 reviewed proposed edits to the environment and conservation element of the comprehensive plan and discussed how several policies will be relocated into the draft climate element or the forthcoming Shoreline Master Program update.

John Coleman, director of the Planning, Community and Economic Development Department, told commissioners the proposed changes are chiefly editorial and organizational: previously separate Shoreline Master Program goals and policies will be folded into the comprehensive plan as shoreline goals while regulatory language will move into municipal code during the SMP update. Coleman said the reorganization is intended to make goals and regulations easier to find and to reflect updated Ecology guidance.

Commissioners examined several specific items, including:
- Sea‑level rise and shoreline policy placement: a policy to assess sea‑level‑rise vulnerability for wetlands and beaches was noted as relevant to both the climate element and the SMP; staff suggested relocating or cross‑referencing the measure in the SMP update process.
- Flood mapping and groundwater flooding: commissioners asked whether “frequently flooded areas” are mapped; staff said FEMA 100‑year floodplain maps exist for parts of the city and that the draft climate vulnerability work also identified potential groundwater inundation areas requiring further study.
- Trees and urban forest: commissioners discussed preserving tree canopy, balancing streamside vegetation protection with wildfire risk, and whether policies should be split or clarified to separate stream protection from fire‑risk management.
- Permanent conservation tools: a commissioner asked how the plan can “protect in perpetuity”; staff described conservation easements, Native Growth Protection Tracts and other legal mechanisms used to restrict development of natural areas.

Commissioners also reiterated a request that the plan include a glossary of technical terms (for example, “active transportation” and “form‑based codes”) and suggested clearer cross‑references so readers can follow where a policy originated and how it connects to other plan elements. Staff said the document tracker in the meeting packet identifies relocated and revised policies and that additional clarity will be added before the public hearing.

Next steps: staff said the environment and conservation edits will be returned with any follow‑up clarifications at an upcoming hearing (the commission discussed holding the hearing at the next scheduled meeting if the climate element timeline allows). Coleman asked commissioners to flag any additional items so staff can incorporate changes before public circulation.

","At the April 9 meeting the Planning Commission examined proposed edits to the environment and conservation element that strip or relocate items into the new climate element and noted overlap with the pending Shoreline Master Program update. Commissioners requested a glossary, asked for clearer cross‑references, and discussed mapping frequently‑f","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Anacortes planning commission reviews draft climate element with 15 goals and 59 policies

Planning commission excuses two members, approves minutes from Oct. 30, 2024

Planning commissioners review environment and conservation edits, cross‑referencing climate element and SMP