Planning Commission unanimously recommends Curtis Wharf shore power and pump‑out permit to city council

The City of Anacortes Planning Commission on May 28 voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council approve a Shoreline Substantial Development Permit (SDP‑2025‑0001) for shore power and a commercial black‑water pump‑out at Curtis Wharf.

The recommendation, moved by Commissioner Mills and seconded by Commissioner McCombs, follows a staff presentation and a Port of Anacortes briefing. Associate Planner Anna Dooley said "the staff recommends approval of this project with conditions." The motion adopted the staff report, findings of fact, and 13 recommended conditions and was approved by roll call vote.

The project would add two mobile shore‑power pedestals and a metered commercial pump‑out to support existing harbor craft at Curtis Wharf, which the port and staff described as an active, water‑dependent industrial pier. Port representative Anderson described the proposal as "an exciting project" and said the shore‑power pedestals are mounted on skids so they can be relocated along the pier to serve smaller harbor craft. Commissioner McCombs said the proposal "looks pretty straightforward."

According to the staff report, the pump‑out system would allow vessels to discharge black water into the sanitary sewer rather than at sea or via diesel marine vacuum service. The pipework will use HDPE routed under and along the wharf and will discharge to the city sanitary sewer via a metered connection. Dooley and the port said the port must finalize a discharge agreement with the city wastewater treatment plant before the pump‑out is put into operation. Dooley also noted the port was the lead agency for a SEPA determination of non‑significance issued in November 2024 and that the project was designed to result in no net loss of shoreline ecological functions.

The shore power component would provide two 200‑amp, three‑phase, 480‑volt pedestals sized to serve harbor craft (not large ocean‑going vessels). Port staff said shore power is intended to let smaller vessels shut down diesel generators while at berth, reducing local diesel emissions, greenhouse gases and noise. Funding for the pump‑out was described as provided by the Washington State Department of Commerce; funding for shore power was described as provided by the Washington State Department of Transportation. The port also said it holds an agreed order with the Washington State Department of Ecology for remediation work at the nearby Quiet Cove cleanup site and does not expect the Curtis Wharf work to affect that remediation.

Dooley summarized the procedural history: the city received the application in February 2025 and deemed it complete in April; a mandatory neighborhood meeting was held April 24; a 30‑day written comment period ran through May 16; no outside‑agency or public comments were received during that comment period. The public hearing before the planning commission was opened and closed the same evening, with no public testimony recorded. The commission’s recommendation advances the permit to a closed‑record decision hearing before the City Council scheduled for June 9, 2025.

Key conditions cited in the staff packet include measures to avoid shoreline alteration, requirements for installation method (primarily hand tools on or beneath the deck), monitoring and BMPs for pump‑out operations, metering and reporting of pump‑out volumes, and a requirement that any discharge agreement with the treatment plant be executed before operation. The staff report is included in the planning commission packet; the 13 conditions appear starting on page 7 of that packet.

Next steps: the Planning Commission’s recorded recommendation and the administrative record will be forwarded to City Council for a closed‑record decision hearing on June 9, 2025. If Council approves the permit, the port said it expects to pursue construction timed to fish‑window restrictions, with construction anticipated in winter of the following year.