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Council approves port permit for shore power and commercial pump‑out at Curtis Wharf
Summary
Anacortes City Council approved a shoreline substantial development permit for shore power hookups and a commercial blackwater pump‑out at Curtis Wharf after the Planning Commission recommended approval; staff said sewer metering and billing terms will be set before issuance.
The Anacortes City Council on Monday approved a shoreline substantial development permit allowing the Port of Anacortes to install shore power hookups and a commercial blackwater pump‑out at Curtis Street Wharf.
The project, which received unanimous recommendation from the Planning Commission, would add electrical shore power for vessels moored at the Curtis Street Wharf and a commercial system to pump blackwater from vessels into the city sewer system. John Coleman, director of planning, community and economic development, said the changes “reduce the amount of fossil fuels being used, reducing their costs, and improving air quality, improving noise, reducing noise in the area.”
The permit does not allow increased vessel use at the wharf; staff characterized the work as an accessory improvement to existing marine activity. The staff report and Planning Commission recommendation include standard conditions and several requirements specific to sewer department coordination: the port must obtain a sewer connection permit, install flow metering and ensure appropriate sampling, and enter an agreement with the city on billing and metering prior to issuance.
Miss Sweatnam, responding to a council question about rates, said industrial discharge rates are “based on the volume and the waste strength” and that a formula in code converts those measures into equivalent residential units priced via the city’s unified fee schedule.
Councilmember Walters moved to approve Shoreline Substantial Development Permit SDP‑20250001 “subject to the conditions of approval recommended by the planning commission as they're written in the staff report dated May 22.” The motion passed unanimously (motion: Walters; second: Young; yes: Young, Walters, Cleveland McGrath, Moulton). Coleman and staff noted the permit has the usual five‑year authorization window and that the sewer department confirmed capacity after staff ran the numbers.
The project’s estimated construction valuation on the record is $2.5 million, and staff said coordination with recent interlocal road improvements near Curtis Street Wharf has been completed to support the work.
Council approval allows the port to move forward with final design and permitting steps under the permit conditions; project construction and any related connection fees will proceed under separate agreements and approvals.
