Planning Commission reviews draft economic-development goals, highlights creative-economy support

The Anacortes Planning Commission on May 14 reviewed draft amendments to the Comprehensive Plan's Economic Development element that emphasize support for the city's creative economy, add language backing incubator and microenterprise programs, and update parking and tourism policies.

The proposed amendments call for the city to "collaborate with Anacortes Creative District to foster growth of Anacortes creative economy through recruitment and supportive creative and artistic businesses, supporting the Anacortes Arts Festival and additional arts and cultural events and marketing Anacortes as a destination for art and culture," said Andrew Oliver of Leland Consulting Group while presenting the updated goals and policies. John Coleman, the city's planning director, told commissioners the staff added stronger arts language after seeing survey results and stakeholder input: "we feel strongly that we've got a really good arts and culture community and creative, a creative economy…