The Anacortes Planning Commission on Sept. 10 kept open the public hearing on the 2025 comprehensive plan and said it will accept further comments at upcoming meetings before potentially closing the hearing Sept. 24.

John Coleman, director of Planning, Community and Economic Development, reminded the commission that the public hearing opened Aug. 27 and that staff had elected to continue it to allow more participation. "At the August 27 planning commission meeting, we held a public hearing on the comprehensive plan document, and we had a lot of participation. We've elected to keep that public hearing open until September 24," Coleman said.

Coleman and staff said there is no further presentation that evening and that the hearing remained open to anyone in person or online who wished to comment on the draft comprehensive plan. Staff also noted upcoming opportunities for public review, a special meeting Sept. 17 to continue development regulation discussion, and a staff plan to publish an updated packet for commission review before the next hearings.

Why it matters: the comprehensive plan sets long‑range policy, land‑use designations and the framework for development regulations; extending the hearing allows additional public input before the commission and council consider adoption.

Next steps: the commission will continue to take public comment at future meetings, including Sept. 24 (when Transpo will present proposed street‑standard amendments) and will consider closing the hearing on that date if deliberations are complete.