Positions

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…

Read more

SGA Comments on Protecting Public Involvement in Proposed Title 19 Permit Streamlining Amendments

Smart Growth Anacortes   Date: July 15th, 2026 Subject: SGA AMC Title 19, Unified Development Code – Comments Corrected. To: Planning Commission   Hello Again Planning Commission Members:   SGA has taken more input on the AMC Title 19, Unified Development Code and has done more analysis. This has led to a more defined and directed set of comments. It is SGA’s hope that these comments are not seen as divisive but rather as a start…

Read more

Protecting Public Participation in the Title 19 Permit Streamlining Amendments

Smart Growth Anacortes urges the Planning Commission to strengthen the proposed Title 19 Permit Streamlining Amendments to ensure early, meaningful public involvement and avoid unintended consequences in sensitive neighborhoods such as the R1 Zone. While we support efforts to improve efficiency, the current draft shifts too many permits to administrative review, reduces early engagement, and creates a “lock‑in” effect by limiting later review of site plans. We recommend requiring pre‑application neighborhood meetings, restoring pre‑decision public…

Read more