[{"_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",5974536,"mediaKeyId","5837977-e09a30c93670083242cb3c9c6f8156f3","parentId",5837977,"title","Commission reviews proposed street‑design code updates, active‑transportation network and exceptions","audioSeconds",2346,"startMs",5725000,"endMs",8071000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5837977-e09a30c93670083242cb3c9c6f8156f3&start=5725&end=8071","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5837977-e09a30c93670083242cb3c9c6f8156f3/thumbnail_5725000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5974536/Anacortes/Skagit-County/Washington/Commission-reviews-proposed-streetdesign-code-updates-activetransportation-network-and-exceptions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5974536-59bc162dd4c98b707f3a880c4858a0f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1774923209&Signature=nVK6Wrc7f3IlA8FLXFcMymlwFFQHLxfGv7RwchnqzTBU~xVPD9n0dOfpaxESP742ZvnYkHRH-t~Q3pfJpXlggDcWwN3qSs1KXCP41TbN~imoqSNlBujhFGogsECHQwC3NZ0P8Bd5YYIOo0tOvj2SHBEjLLwNIgBmGO8Ws~xYM6-0utbyIUt3n0gcoYtRwX6yC3tUe3n42-d1rzPpt-fs1ro~Fc4Up8rlMk9Aabjg1vDTRq29lMw8CkHoZqxTm51Kwi9XKJws6hvjGqWBBUCI9ZrUeWqZWetY3CgNLqVxB03iqRTJqR2ZLbKjvmygDmF9nZf935BHUh71L9b5TFjIfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Anacortes, WA","date","2025-09-25T00:00:00Z","article","Planning staff and Transpo Group consultant Chris Como presented proposed amendments to development regulations (Anacortes Municipal Code, Title 19 Division 5) that govern public street standards, driveways and street frontage required when development occurs.

Why it matters: the regulation changes implement the transportation and active‑transportation policies in the comprehensive plan and affect how future development constructs or pays for sidewalk, bicycle facilities and related frontage. Como emphasized that the proposed changes incorporate the Growth Management Act’s multimodal level‑of‑service approach and an active transportation network that distinguishes primary and secondary segments.

Key changes summarized by Como: the code will reference an active transportation map and the functional classification map; it specifies cross sections for principal arterials and minor arterials (and lists those streets in code); it distinguishes primary and secondary segments of the active transportation network (primary segments generally require separated bicycle/pedestrian facilities; secondary segments may allow shared lane markings and parking on both sides); it adds flexibility language and an administrative path for the Public Works Director to apply professional judgment where right‑of‑way or other constraints prevent full implementation; and it updates references (for example, to the newest edition of the Trip Generation Manual and the city ADA transition plan).

Commissioner questions focused on practical tradeoffs: several commissioners signaled willingness to remove parking on one side of constrained commercial streets to gain space for bike lanes, and asked staff to re‑examine specific corridors. Commissioners also pressed staff to review J Avenue and an area of Jay Street near a school to ensure proposed classifications and cross sections do not inadvertently reduce child‑safety protections. Como agreed to review those segments and report back.

The draft code includes a set of tables that tie street classification to typical features (lane widths, parking, buffer widths, sidewalks or multi‑use paths). The draft also proposes an in‑lieu option and other ways to meet frontage requirements (for example, completing required frontage elsewhere if a low‑volume residential street resists curb and sidewalk construction). Commissioners asked staff to clarify the public‑interest tests and to avoid wording that could be read as allowing arbitrary neighborhood vetoes; staff agreed to refine language about how neighborhood preferences and public‑safety standards are balanced.

A few narrow administrative changes were added late in the packet: for example, staff proposed giving the Public Works Director authority to approve driveway curb openings wider than 30 feet in special circumstances, subject to review.

Next steps: the Planning Commission scheduled an Oct. 1 special meeting to continue development‑regulation review and tentatively set an Oct. 22 public hearing on the Division 5 amendments. Staff will return with revised language and targeted reviews of named streets and safety concerns.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Anacortes - Planning Commission Meeting, 9/24/25 (Live Broadcast)","oneSentenceSummary","Planning staff and Transpo Group presented proposed edits to Anacortes Municipal Code Title 19 Division 5 to add an active transportation network, align street cross sections to functional classification and add limited flexibility where right‑of‑way constraints exist.","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},5974541,"Housing authority urges approval of Lisonbee (Olsen) building zoning change; port requests partial changes on waterfront map",1394,4129000,5523000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5837977-e09a30c93670083242cb3c9c6f8156f3&start=4129&end=5523","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5837977-e09a30c93670083242cb3c9c6f8156f3/thumbnail_4129000.jpg","/articles/5974541/Anacortes/Skagit-County/Washington/Housing-authority-urges-approval-of-Lisonbee-Olsen-building-zoning-change-port-requests-partial-changes-on-waterfront-map","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5974541-8b0451f6734352b5c3b1c698e1b7b66a/orig.mp4?Expires=1774923209&Signature=b7GFHK59RZ8YnAXfrnJJubP1Ax55O2lbrQNvglOSmSqV7z-qR3B9Ty8avSZMEiIg~tFWu1eJKx1QeJThM-aVW3ISmM5N2sAQ-rUWYakGG7ExK~PzbDFj3pxVA~XTAlqzzvOzhWulPX6P5vbmwo-Oc4V~ZXmMsClsiRmhNZayroRpko3Cs6-Q2Hu9YOND3Fk~oLOmdHSjWnOoiHrRyn9fT6nZdami5vX9yVNmptuf31C0B5ImmMY4bJSm0HRqkxakXyWUzv6D44mwMB7kkOmiIXNtFUEnZzg2M5321T~a1oL1A4OjiKEpZ1xLmXrwyG8qJwAbY3WosZbVYVID9TvNBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pat Barrett, acting chairman of the Anacortes Housing Authority board, urged the planning commission to recommend approval of a zoning change for the Lisonbee (referred to in the record as the Olsen) Building to enable a 27‑unit affordable housing project. Barrett said the building deed specified use for affordable housing and asked the commission to forward the plan to council so the project can proceed.

Barrett and staff described site constraints: the building footprint is about 5,000 square feet on a roughly 6,000‑square‑foot lot, and off‑street parking is limited. Barrett said the port has not agreed to provide additional parking and that the housing authority and the port are working together on mitigation and operational details. He told the commission the project is funded with grant resources and local sales tax revenue.

On the same agenda, staff summarized eight proposed future land‑use map (FLUM) amendments. Port of Anacortes requested that several parcels in the Capstan/Marina area be changed from a mix of commercial and marine‑mixed‑use designations to commercial marine. Staff recommended approving most of the port’s east‑side change (areas with direct water access) but keeping the gravel trailer parking area and the marine‑technical college site at Seafarers Park as their existing commercial or marine‑mixed classifications.

Commissioner discussion noted the practical consequences of labeling and zoning choices but did not record any legal prohibition preventing the housing project; commissioners observed that adjacent industrial or port uses would remain whether the parcel carried a CBD or commercial‑marine label. Commissioner questions focused on whether the port intended to block the housing project; staff and commissioners said they had seen no indication the port sought to halt the project and recommended the city attorney be available if legal easements or covenants needed review.

Public comment from nearby residents asked that the commission preserve the character of a small residential pocket between Fourth Street and the depot rather than extend downtown commercial form (higher height, zero setbacks) into that area; a resident and the museum director also supported a staff recommendation to change the museum parcel at 1305 Eighth Street to public use.

What was decided: the Planning Commission’s motion recommending adoption of the comprehensive plan updates and FLUM amendments to City Council included the staff’s consolidated FLUM recommendations (Aug. 22 memo). The commission’s recommendation does not itself change zoning—it forwards the future land‑use map and staff recommended text to the City Council, which makes final map and code changes.

Clarifying details recorded in the meeting: the housing authority said the Olsen/Lisonbee building would provide 27 units; the lot and footprint sizes were described in testimony as 6,000 square feet and a 5,000‑square‑foot building footprint; staff summarized eight FLUM amendment requests; the city had requested an urban growth area (UGA) boundary adjustment that the County Board of Commissioners approved, and the newly included parcels would be designated public in the FLUM.","Speakers at the Sept. 24 public hearing urged approval of a zoning change for the Lisonbee (called Olsen in the record) building to allow an affordable housing conversion; staff also reported a Port of Anacortes request to change several parcels to ‘commercial marine’ with staff recommending only partial approval.",{"_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},5974546,"Anacortes planning commission recommends 2025 comprehensive plan updates to city council",5178,556000,5734000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5837977-e09a30c93670083242cb3c9c6f8156f3&start=556&end=5734","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5837977-e09a30c93670083242cb3c9c6f8156f3/thumbnail_556000.jpg","/articles/5974546/Anacortes/Skagit-County/Washington/Anacortes-planning-commission-recommends-2025-comprehensive-plan-updates-to-city-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5974546-2639e49676d32319441dcd606fb806d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1774923209&Signature=negKOiHK47dofbmZKtkdRz~msNgrLHS7aSvJHmSXNmTHykd1BzlhF49DP3iBfHU9wOI7Gm0-ai8dDSmkzYOlaE61NIdVfLCrLxvmtN4GOZeZ0-2EETRcN3BCw5CIc0cyeKL4KAYnNCcJlVRQ4imfB8ItWmOusWfMODoD5p-p58h5IlZqtPGrm54JMdrbFqJhKEeAFypGKgNWlfktrYVRhGIcWNsykE6Xf2~rG2Cr09WWKIyooluPcMnRVdjTQwFMxHNelbIT9GKsAYTYd9BB36xpgWFqoE8HFBlhFMWRSH5muTEn36FRulaqIYd5oK~aWuTHHNuT0N5IxXk4iEpyOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Anacortes Planning Commission on Sept. 24 recommended that the City Council adopt the city’s 2025–2045 comprehensive plan updates, including background updates in volume 2, eight future land‑use map amendments and a glossary, with one volume 2 wildlife section to be reviewed when completed.

The recommendation matters because the comprehensive plan frames zoning, capital investments and grant eligibility for the next 20 years; staff told commissioners the updates were needed to meet Growth Management Act (GMA) requirements and to refresh data that has aged since the 2016 plan. Planning Manager Libby Grage told the commission, “The draft plan has 2 volumes, volume 1 and volume 2,” and described volume 2 as the background data and analysis that support policies in volume 1.

Commissioners heard staff summaries of each background element in volume 2. Consultant Chris Como of Transpo Group reviewed the transportation inventory and stressed new GMA requirements to incorporate multimodal level‑of‑service standards and an active transportation network. He noted Skagit Council of Governments’ regional travel‑demand model was used for 20‑year forecasts and said, “There’s a link to the safety plan,” listing corridor projects and an active transportation project list.

Grage summarized other volume 2 updates: land use sections were revised to reflect GMA and Skagit countywide planning policies; the housing element includes the 2023 housing action plan and projected needs by income band; economic development background incorporated Western Washington University and Leland/Maker‑type consultant work and a maritime strategic plan; environment and conservation sections were reorganized and updated; parks and recreation inventories were revised; and capital facilities now inventory green infrastructure as required by GMA.

Staff reported public engagement: the project followed the public participation plan adopted by Resolution 31 56. Phase 1 (preliminary policy revisions, Jan–July 2024) yielded 113 written comment submittals and five planning‑commission public hearings with 12 speakers; Phase 2 (draft plan released July 16, 2025) had more than 115 written comments and 18 public‑hearing speakers through the session kept open into September and tonight’s continued hearing.

Staff recommended approval of the eight future land‑use map amendments as summarized in a consolidated memo dated Aug. 22, 2025, with one partial exception on the Port of Anacortes submission (staff recommended approving a portion of the port’s request and retaining existing designations for other parcels). Grage explained the staff proposed policy language additions, map clarifications and minor wording fixes being recommended to accompany the plan as forwarded to council.

After public testimony — including supporters of the Lisonbee (Olsen) housing project and neighborhood requests for a new transitional residential zone — Commissioner Jeremy Martin moved to recommend adoption of the proposed comprehensive plan amendments and the future land‑use map amendments, including the staff’s Aug. 22 and Sept. 19 memos, adding the glossary and requesting the commission review the pending wildlife update in volume 2 when finished. The motion passed on a roll call: Commissioner McCombs, Commissioner Ryan, Commissioner Martin, Commissioner Duretsky and Commissioner Courier voted aye.

Next steps: the planning commission’s recommendation and the staff memos will go to the City Council for review and final action. Staff noted the transportation element changes have already been reviewed by Skagit Council of Governments staff for GMA certification, which the city needs to remain eligible for state and federal transportation grants.

Less‑critical details: staff said the future land‑use map consolidation includes eight discrete amendment requests; one UGA (urban growth area) adjustment requested by the city was approved by the Board of County Commissioners and those parcels would be designated public in the plan; the staff suggested retaining the term “tsunamis” in the environment goal because it had been accidentally removed; and several small wording and formatting fixes were proposed in the staff memo.","The Anacortes Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council adopt the 2025–2045 comprehensive plan updates (volume 1 goals/policies and the volume 2 background updates) and eight future land‑use map amendments, plus a glossary and a pending wildlife update.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission reviews proposed street‑design code updates, active‑transportation network and exceptions

Housing authority urges approval of Lisonbee (Olsen) building zoning change; port requests partial changes on waterfront map

Anacortes planning commission recommends 2025 comprehensive plan updates to city council