The Anacortes Planning Commission on Aug. 20 approved a shoreline substantial development permit for stormwater improvements along Fidalgo Bay Road intended to reduce road flooding during heavy rain events.

The permit, for work led by the City of Anacortes Public Works Department, clears a project to add an overflow outlet and associated trenching and outfall infrastructure on a stretch of Fidalgo Bay Road near the Fidalgo Bay Resort and RV park. The commission voted unanimously to approve the permit with a revision to a condition requiring planning-department review before removal of any trees in the adjacent conservancy shoreline environment designation.

City stormwater program manager Aaron Esterholt told the commission the existing infiltration vault “works fine during normal flows,” but “when we have a heavy rain event, it can't keep up” and the road floods, creating a safety hazard. Esterholt said families live at the nearby RV park and a school bus picks up children near the same spot. “This really is for public safety,” he said.

Why it matters: The project aims to address repeated closures and safety risks when stormwater overwhelms an existing vault and pools onto the roadway. Commissioners pressed staff about environmental protections, archaeological review, erosion controls and timing to minimize impacts to adjacent shoreline areas.

Project details and regulatory review

City planning staff described the work as a primary utility for stormwater and said the pipeline and outfall are permitted uses in the urban shoreline designation. According to the staff presentation, the primary construction elements include installing a roughly 390-foot pipe, trenching about 8 feet deep and 24 inches wide, and placing a riprap outfall pad roughly 3 by 20 feet extending to about 18 feet at the pipe outlet. The proposal includes minor vegetation removal that staff said would be replaced with native plants and no trees would be removed within the project footprint as designed. Sidewalk and asphalt removed for the work will be restored to ADA-compliant standards.

Staff noted the project was submitted last year, the notice of application and SEPA review began with a notice issued June 16, and the 30-day public comment period closed Aug. 15; staff reported no comments were received after the packet was published. Planning staff also said the city has obtained a Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for work near the shoreline and that the project is expected to result in no net loss of shoreline ecological functions if conditions are met.

Mitigation, archaeological review and construction timing

Planning Director John Coleman said the project will use erosion- and sediment-control best management practices (BMPs) such as silt fencing and straw waddles and that staff will inspect the site during construction. Coleman said the riprap outfall is intended as a permanent BMP to reduce erosion at the pipe outlet.

Coleman and staff also said the Samish Indian Nation and the state's cultural-resources reviewers were notified; staff said the Samish tribe offered to send a letter and that project contractors will notify archaeologists before work begins. Commissioner McCombs requested clearer permit language on tree protection because the project sits near the boundary of the urban shoreline and a conservancy-designated shoreline environment. Planning staff agreed to modify condition 3 so that “trees located in the adjacent conservancy shoreline environment designation shall not be removed and shall not be negatively impacted by the outcome of the project without prior planning department review and approval.”

Timing and cost

Esterholt told the commission the construction work is expected to take about two weeks and crews aim to begin as soon as possible to complete the work before the rainy season. Planning staff said the construction portion was estimated at approximately $149,000 and will be completed by a contractor.

Public comment and commission action

No members of the public spoke during the public hearing. After questions from commissioners about permits, the erosion-control plan and protections for vegetation and cultural resources, Commissioner Linda Martin moved to approve the shoreline substantial development permit (listed in the packet with the identifier used by staff) subject to the recommended conditions with the modification to condition 3; Commissioner Stoneman seconded. The commission took a roll-call vote; Commissioners Mills, McCombs, Martin, Stoneman, Dretske and Currier (recorded also in the transcript as “Courier”) voted yes. The motion passed.

What remains: Staff will oversee contractor BMPs and coordinate with cultural-resources reviewers and the Samish tribe before construction. Planning staff said they track required follow-up monitoring (one-, three- and five-year reports) for public-improvement permits and will request those reports if they are not submitted.

Planning-department update

At the end of the meeting Planning Director John Coleman reported the City Council and Port of Anacortes approved two interlocal agreements related to an event center: one for construction roles and off-ramps and another covering operations and parties' responsibilities. Coleman said that was the major planning update since the commission last met.

The commission adjourned at approximately 6:34 p.m.