The Anacortes Planning Commission on May 28 voted to recommend City Council approve a shoreline substantial development permit (SDP-2025-0001) for shore power and a commercial black-water pump-out at Curtis Wharf, subject to 13 conditions listed in the staff report.

The measure, moved by Commissioner Mills and seconded by Commissioner McCombs, passed by roll call with all commissioners present voting yes. Staff described the proposal as accessory improvements to an existing water-dependent industrial facility intended to serve current vessel volumes and reduce on-site emissions and discharges.

The project, presented by Anna Dooley, associate planner for the City of Anacortes, and Kevin Anderson of the Port of Anacortes, would add mobile shore-power pedestals and a metered black-water pump-out system. Dooley told the commission the project is located at Curtis Wharf, which sits at the end of Second Street and projects into the Guemes Channel, and that the shoreline designation at the site is “urban maritime.” She said the port obtained a SEPA determination of nonsignificance in November 2024 and that no public or outside-agency comments were submitted during the 30-day notice period.

Port representative Kevin Anderson said the proposal is designed to serve the existing harbor-craft market (smaller local tugs and workboats), not ocean-going cruise vessels. He described two 200-amp, three-phase, 400-volt mobile pedestals mounted on skids so they can be relocated along the pier and a metered, peristaltic-pump commercial black-water system that will discharge to the municipal sanitary sewer. Anderson said the pump-out will be metered for both billing and to provide usage data to the wastewater treatment plant. He said the pump-out intake will penetrate the pier bulkhead at about 10.26 feet mean lower low water and that installation will be performed using hand tools on the deck or from work barges beneath the pier.

Staff and the port said the project would not increase vessel calls or change the wharf’s water-dependent use; no shoreline armoring or expansion is proposed. Anderson said the pump-out was funded by the Washington State Department of Commerce and that the shore-power work received funding from the Washington State Department of Transportation; both funding sources were cited during the presentation. He also said the port holds an agreed order with the Washington State Department of Ecology for remediation of an adjacent cleanup site and that the port had secured a Hydraulic Project Approval from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and was nearing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permitting.

Commission discussion touched on two operational matters: whether the new amenities might attract additional vessel traffic and how the city will set rates for sewer discharge. Anderson and staff said the port does not expect the project to increase vessel trips because Curtis Wharf is already active, and that the sewer-discharge agreement and fees will be finalized with Public Works and the city attorney before operations begin; staff referenced the Anacortes Municipal Code as governing discharge agreements and fees.

No members of the public offered testimony during the public hearing. After questions, Commissioner Mills moved to adopt the staff report findings of fact and conclusions of law and to recommend council approval of SDP-2025-0001 with the 13 conditions in the staff report; McCombs seconded. The roll-call vote recorded unanimous approval by Commissioners Mills, McCombs, Ryan, Martin, Stoneman, Juratsky, and Currier.

The record shows the port and city plan to finalize a discharge agreement with the wastewater treatment plant before the pump-out is operated and to complete remaining agency permits (U.S. Army Corps and any final state clearances) before construction proceeds. The project team indicated construction is targeted for the winter fish window in the coming construction season.

The planning commission’s action is a recommendation to city council; the council is scheduled to consider the closed-record decision hearing on June 9, 2025.