Anacortes planning staff: critical-areas regulations largely consistent with best available science

Planning Manager Libby Grama told the Anacortes Planning Commission on Aug. 11 that consultants from Geoengineers reviewed the city’s critical areas regulations and concluded the existing framework is “fundamentally sound and generally consistent with the best available science.” Grama said the review covered wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, critical aquifer recharge areas and geologically hazardous areas and that the periodic update is scheduled to be completed by 12/31/2026.

The consultants produced three reports that, according to staff, recommend mostly “minor, technical updates” such as clarifying code language, updating habitat-scoring references to match Ecology’s wetland rating system and refining mapping and code organization. Grama said staff will use those recommendations to draft amendments and aim to publish proposed changes in mid-September. She added that the draft amendments will be followed by public comment periods, planning commission hearings and, for shoreline work, review by the Washington Department of Ecology before any changes become effective.

Commissioners and members of the public asked for clarifications on several recommendations — including buffer averaging rules, potential new designations for exposed bedrock, and examples of mitigation measures — and Grama said staff will return with additional detail. The planning department also noted that some proposals (for example, an in-lieu fee mitigation option) would require the city to create new programs before they could be used.