Council approves vacation of alley and preliminary unit‑lot subdivision, securing 2.75 acres adjacent to ACFL
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Summary
The council adopted an ordinance vacating roughly 2,407 sq ft of unopened alley in exchange for a quitclaim deed of about 2.75 acres adjacent to Anacortes Community Forest Lands, a public access easement, and $5,000 for future hazard tree removal, and approved the associated 21‑lot unit lot subdivision with cottage standards.
Anacortes — The City Council voted Feb. 9 to vacate a portion of unopened alley and to approve an associated unit‑lot subdivision and cottage development submitted by Strandberg Construction.
City Attorney Swetnam explained the petition seeks to vacate about 2,407 square feet of alley in the 17th Street area. In exchange the applicant would convey to the city a roughly 2.75‑acre parcel adjacent to the Anacortes Community Forest Lands (ACFL), grant a public access easement connecting 17th Street to the ACFL, and pay $5,000 for removal of future hazard trees. Swetnam said former public works director Rayum assessed the alley’s value at $24,936 and determined the proposed compensation "is significantly more valuable than the area proposed to be vacated." Swetnam also noted relevant municipal code provisions guiding vacations (AMC chapter 12.50 and sections cited in the staff report).
Council members discussed neighborhood concerns — parking and traffic on 17th Street and the need to preserve a 10‑foot pedestrian connection to the forest lands — and sought to ensure the walk path is specified in the ordinance. Councilmembers highlighted the public benefits, including connectivity to ACFL, protection of wetlands, and acquisition of forested land and a public trail connection.
Councilmember Young moved to approve the vacation and the associated ordinance; the council adopted it by roll call (5 ayes, 0 nays). The record shows the planning commission recommended approval of the subdivision with conditions. Planning manager Pollard summarized the subdivision as a unit lot subdivision and cottage development (ULS‑2025‑001) comprising 21 lots (one existing residence and 20 proposed cottages), processed through the city’s consolidated application and integrated environmental review. Pollard noted SEPA issued a determination of nonsignificance and described site‑specific items including wetland buffer delineation, buffer averaging, parking arrangements, private and common open space, and cottage standards (maximum 1,200 sq ft per cottage; maximum height 25 ft).
Council then moved to adopt the planning findings of fact and to approve the preliminary plat, including wetland buffer width averaging and alternative pedestrian circulation design, subject to all conditions listed in the staff report; the motion passed by voice vote.
Why it matters: The combined actions alter public right‑of‑way ownership, add public access to Anacortes’ forest lands, and permit a 20‑unit cottage development near sensitive wetlands, with conditions intended to protect buffers and public access.
What's next: Staff will complete the ministerial steps to record the vacation deed and process the subdivision’s permitting and building permits subject to conditions in the staff report.
