Planning commission reviews capital facilities concurrency, police and fire level-of-service guidance

The Anacortes Planning Commission continued work Feb. 12 on proposed updates to the city’s capital facilities element, including how the city applies concurrency requirements and how proposed level-of-service standards for police and fire would be defined.

Planning Manager Libby Graige told the commission the draft language clarifies how concurrency is applied and notes that for utilities (water, wastewater and stormwater) concurrency must be met prior to actual use, while for transportation, police, fire and parks a financial commitment to complete needed improvements or other strategies must be in place within six years of occupancy. Graige said the chiefs of police and fire provided memos with additional detail but were not able to attend the meeting.

Why it matters: concurrency and level-of-service standards determine whether new development may be approved and who — developers, the city or other funders — must pay for upgrades. Commissioners pressed for clarity about whether proposed standards reflect independent professional benchmarks or the departments’ current staffing constraints.

Commissioner McCombs asked why department standards in the chiefs’ memos appeared to be based on current staffing rather than an independent standard the city should aim to meet. “Shouldn’t the city be trying to meet that staffing level so that they can meet those standards rather than adjusting the standards?” McCombs asked. Graige said staff would follow up with the chiefs and return with answers.

Commissioner Ryan and others discussed a specific fire standard referenced in a memo. Ryan summarized the NFPA guidance cited by staff: “NFPA 1710 ... has a 4‑man minimum per ladder unit, and he's saying 3. So there again with the density, and he's saying we're gonna be at 90% or whatever that is.” The commission noted that the fire memo described an “effective response force” metric that does not directly match an NFPA table and requested the chiefs clarify that divergence in writing.

Commissioners also discussed police staffing. Graige summarized the chiefs’ memo noting a national staffing figure of about 2.3–2.4 officers per 1,000 residents; the draft Anacortes standard proposed in the materials is 1.83 officers per 1,000. Commissioners noted the draft standard is lower than the national figure and asked for the chiefs’ rationale, particularly whether the standard reflects service adequacy, population density effects, or current staffing constraints.

Graige described the city’s concurrency review process, which routes development permit applications to impacted departments so each can determine whether facilities and services meet level-of-service standards and, if not, what improvements or conditions are required. She said for utilities, the city conditions approval on the improvements being completed prior to use; for other services, a financial commitment to complete improvements within six years of occupancy is typically expected.

The commission had no formal vote on the capital facilities language; Graige said staff will follow up with the police and fire chiefs on the specific questions raised and that the public hearing on the capital facilities and utilities elements is set for the next meeting, Feb. 26, 2025, at 6 p.m. Members of the public may review documents and submit comments through the city website and compplan@anacorteswa.gov.

Ending: Staff will return with written clarifications from the chiefs on the NFPA and staffing-related questions, and the commission will hold a public hearing on Feb. 26 as the next step in the Comprehensive Plan amendment process.