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Consultant outlines downtown streetscape ideas; council and businesses favor staged pilots
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Summary
Consultants presented concepts to enliven Commercial Avenue — paintable curb extensions, improved lighting, wayfinding, parklet management and tactical plazas — and heard both support from advocacy groups and concern from some business owners about parking and access; staff will return with a revised draft and cost estimates.
Planning director John Coleman introduced a downtown streetscape study presented by First 40 Feet consultant Jason Graff. The consultant described a vision centered on Commercial Avenue and connected side streets: testable curb-extension demonstrations (paint first), targeted lighting, a "kit of parts" for street furnishings, management and permitting for parklets, a parking strategy that could include a future central public lot, temporary plazas (5th Street demonstration), and longer-term active-transportation connections such as extending the Tommy Thompson Trail.
Graff emphasized extensive community outreach — workshops, more than 700 online respondents and meetings with partners including the port, the Downtown Anacortes Alliance (DAA) and the Creative Arts District. He framed the proposals as recommendations for staged testing rather than adopted policy.
Council members broadly favored low-cost demonstrations (painting curb extensions and piloting plazas) and better lighting to improve year-round downtown visibility and safety. Several members urged careful coordination with business owners about parking impacts and accessibility, and suggested clear permitting and maintenance responsibilities if parklets remain in place. "Paint for me right now is one way that we can begin to address some of the problems and visually enhance the things that we're hoping to do downtown," Council member Young said.
Public comment reflected the range of views. Jordan Hay, executive director of the Downtown Anacortes Alliance, and Meredith McMillan of the Creative District both offered partnerships and volunteer support for implementation and maintenance. Several downtown business owners — including the owners of Scott Milo Gallery and the Keystone Building — warned that closing streets or removing parking for plazas could harm businesses that rely on customer parking and deliveries. Concerns were also voiced about emergency-vehicle access if sections of roadway are closed.
Next steps: Consultants said they will incorporate council feedback, produce cost estimates for pilot projects and a revised draft in the coming weeks, and work with the DAA and other partners to define responsibilities for maintenance and permitting. Council asked to receive comments by next week to keep the process moving.
