The Anacortes City Council voted Dec. 15 to adopt a 20‑year update to the city’s comprehensive plan (Ordinance 5,013) and the associated development regulation amendments and updated official zoning map (Ordinance 5,014).

Planning Director John Coleman said the update concludes roughly two and a half years of public engagement, open houses and Planning Commission review. The update incorporates state requirements and legislative changes related to accessory dwelling units, housing projections and a new climate element that implements climate‑related goals and requirements. Coleman noted the Department of Commerce had provided review letters approving the required updates.

Councilmembers praised staff and the Planning Commission for the volume of work and discussed the mix of prescriptive, state‑required elements and discretionary long‑range goals. Members noted the implementation will be incremental, that development regulations (‘the code’) may need subsequent adjustments, and that engineering/cost considerations (for example, street design) may require future amendments. Both ordinances passed on unanimous roll‑call votes.