Anacortes Council approves relinquishment of utility easement to Port of Anacortes

Anacortes City Council on Dec. 15 adopted Resolution 31 99 to relinquish remnant utility easements that staff said are larger than the city needs and are hindering the Port of Anacortes’ West Basin development.

Planning and public‑works staff told the council the original street vacations (recorded under earlier ordinances) had retained wide utility easements that now conflict with the Port’s proposed event facility. Staff recommended the city accept new, specifically tailored public easements for water and storm drainage in exchange for relinquishing the remnant area. Council opened and then closed a public hearing before taking action.

Adam Morrow of Pacific Surveying and Engineering, representing the Port, described the item as part of a series of cleanup steps aligned with interlocal agreements and the forthcoming framework plan. Staff presented a map showing the larger retained easement (marked for relinquishment) and the proposed blue and green easement strips tailored to existing infrastructure needs.

Councilmember McDougall moved to adopt Resolution 31 99, a motion seconded and carried by unanimous roll‑call vote. Staff noted the exchange will allow the Port to proceed with entitlement steps tied to the West Basin development.

The public hearing record remains closed; the council took formal action to adopt Resolution 31 99 and authorized the mayor to execute the relinquishment paperwork.