Comprehensive Plan

Speak up for R1 Before Sept 15 hearing

On Sept. 15, the Anacortes Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on amendments to streamline development permitting. The proposed changes will reduce public engagement, affecting every neighborhood in Anacortes and putting added pressure on the about 300-acre R1 Low Density Residential Zone between the city and forestlands. Residents should comment now and attend the Sept. 15 hearing to speak up for transparency and neighborhood input in Anacortes’ development decisions. The R1 Zone is not…

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SGA comments to Planning Commission 8/8/2026 re: Climate Change, Ecological Resilience, and Implementation Gaps in the Updated Gap Analysis and Consistency Review

To: Anacortes Planning Department and Planning Commission From: Smart Growth Anacortes (SGA) Subject: Climate Change, Ecological Resilience, and Implementation Gaps in the Updated Gap Analysis and Consistency Review Planning Commission Members and Planning Staff: Smart Growth Anacortes believes, with excellent and independent factual cause, that the Updated Gap Analysis and Consistency Review provides a useful starting point for the Shoreline Master Program update. The document identifies several important changed circumstances and planning updates, including climate…

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Understanding the Cost of Growth

Dear Mayor and City Council Your proposal for fee updates really needs more work, i.e. a cost recovery analysis for each permit type. The permit system needs to be financially self-supporting and not have development applications funded by existing ratepayers and taxpayers (as they obviously currently are). The public also needs to know well in advance what further increases in sewer and Storm water fees you plan to impose in the next year due to…

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