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Council hears progress report on 2025 comprehensive plan update; full draft due in July
Summary
Planning staff updated the council on the city’s 2025 comprehensive plan periodic review, outlining state-driven requirements (housing, climate) and a July release for the full draft followed by a 30-day public comment period.
City planning staff briefed the Anacortes City Council June 9 on the city’s 2025 periodic comprehensive plan update, which staff said will include a new climate element and changes required by recent state legislation.
John Coleman, the city’s planning director, told the council the update addresses state requirements under the Growth Management Act and recent bills, including HB 1220 (housing requirements) and HB 1181 (climate planning and environmental justice). “We have enough land in city limits and in our existing urban growth area that we do not need to expand our urban growth area to accommodate our future 20‑year population growth or employment growth,” Coleman said, while noting one city-owned parcel adjacent to Anacortes Community Forest lands was proposed for inclusion in the UGA for administrative reasons.
Coleman outlined the update schedule: staff expect to release a full draft comprehensive plan in July, begin a public comment period of at least 30 days, and then proceed with planning‑commission review and final submittal to council in the fall (targeting September–November). The update will cover all plan elements — land use, housing, transportation, economic development, environment and conservation, parks and recreation — and a new climate element.
Council and staff discussed outreach and public participation. Planning staff said outreach has included three public open houses, pop-up tabling, industry listening sessions (including a marine/webfacing session), a climate policy team, targeted mailings and a web portal (planacortes.org). Planning manager Libby Grage was credited by staff for leading the public engagement effort.
Council members encouraged early review of the July draft and noted the limited weeks available after release for council to consider edits before the statutory deadline. A member of the public asked if the draft would show tracked changes compared with the 2016 plan; staff said all proposed edits will be provided in track changes for reviewer clarity.
Staff also said the city has contracted a consultant to review critical areas regulations against best available science; that work is underway and may continue into next year, as the city has a statutory grace period for critical areas updates.
No formal action was taken; the item was a progress update and council check-in.
