Planning Commission holds public hearing on 2025 comprehensive plan amendments for economic development and parks

The City of Anacortes Planning Commission on May 28 held a public hearing but took no formal vote on proposed amendments to the 2025 Comprehensive Plan’s economic development and parks, recreation and open space elements. Staff said comments from the commission and the public will be integrated into a consolidated draft for further review.

Miss Grange, a city planner, summarized proposed edits that the commission reviewed previously and that are incorporated into the draft goal and policy trackers. The proposed economic development changes include adding incubator kitchen spaces for microenterprises (policy ED‑1.5), adding high‑capacity fiber broadband references (ED‑1.8), language to promote tourism assets and to encourage the state to explore reestablishing an international ferry run from Anacortes to Sidney, B.C., and a suggestion to encourage expansion of culinary and hospitality programs at Skagit Valley College. Grange said the packet was updated earlier that day to include a small number of written public comments.

Marlene Finley, president of the local nonprofit Evergreen Islands, testified in support of several economic development policies and told commissioners, "we support these goals, as proposed in the economic development element for the comprehensive plan." Finley urged continued city coordination with Skagit County on potential future uses at Marchpoint and the need to implement regulations consistent with the updated plan.

On parks and recreation, staff described small wording changes: a clarification on maintenance policy language (PR‑3.11), removal of overly specific lists in PR‑8.7 to avoid excluding partners, and an insertion in PR‑9.2 (text in packet). During discussion Commissioner Currier and others argued to retain PR‑6.6, a policy that requires new residential development to provide impact‑fee payments, noting the city already charges such fees and the policy’s presence in the plan retained useful clarity. Miss Grange said staff would incorporate the commission’s feedback into the next draft.

Public questions during the hearing asked about the Guemes Channel trail and the status of a previously discussed environmental review (EIS) and related budget decisions. A member of the public asked about a parks subcommittee called out in PR‑4.3 and whether stakeholder organizations (including Evergreen Islands, Shannon Point Marine Reserve, and the Anacortes School District) had been invited; staff said they would follow up with Parks Director John Lunsford and report back.

Andrew Oliver of Leland Consulting and John Lunsford, parks director, had previously provided technical input during earlier review sessions that staff incorporated into the tracked edits. After the hearing staff and the consultant will integrate the planning commission’s feedback and public comments into a consolidated comprehensive plan draft for further public review and subsequent commission and council consideration.