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Council denies SEPA appeal for comprehensive-plan updates; directs staff to draft findings
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Summary
Council voted to deny an appeal of the SEPA determination of nonsignificance for proposed comprehensive-plan and development-regulation updates (ordinances 5013 and 5014) and directed staff to prepare findings for the Dec. 15 meeting.
On Dec. 8 the Anacortes City Council considered an appeal filed by Ian Muntz seeking to overturn a SEPA determination of nonsignificance issued by John Coleman for non-project comprehensive-plan and development-regulation updates set out in ordinances 5013 and 5014. City counsel (Miss Swetnam) summarized that the city’s procedures adopt a standard of review where the administrative decision is presumptively correct and the appellant bears the burden to show clear error.
Councilmember Walters said he had read the pleadings and found the appellant’s arguments unpersuasive. Walters moved to direct staff to prepare findings of fact and conclusions of law consistent with denying the appeal; the motion was seconded and carried on roll call. Staff will return the findings for council consideration at the Dec. 15 meeting when council also expects to review the comp-plan updates.
Why it matters: Denial of the appeal preserves the city’s determination of nonsignificance at this stage and avoids immediately requiring an environmental impact statement; the procedural findings will be finalized for the next meeting.
What’s next: Staff to draft findings of fact and conclusions of law consistent with the council’s decision and present them on Dec. 15.
