Anacortes is entering a period of rapid change. Major infrastructure decisions, accelerated growth proposals and permitting practices, City financial strains and lack of enforcement and long‑standing gaps in environmental compliance are converging at the same time — and the choices made now will shape the city for decades. Smart Growth Anacortes works to ensure these decisions protect residents, safeguard our environment, and keep long‑term costs under control.
1. $2.4 Million Deficit – City wants your input – Open House 9/30 5-7pm council chambers
The City of Anacortes invites the community to participate in a Budget Open House on Wednesday, September 30, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm in Council Chambers.
A brief presentation of the City’s financial position will be followed by activities designed to gather community input and ideas.
You can also share your opinions and ideas about city services, revenue, and the budget by completing the feedback form at
Anacortes 2027 Budget Development Feedback
2. Permit Streamlining: Reduced Public Oversight and Long‑Term Risks
The City is considering major changes to its permitting system that would shift many land‑use decisions from public processes to administrative approvals. These “permit streamlining” amendments would reduce early public involvement, limit neighborhood notification, and lock in site‑plan decisions before the public has a chance to review final project details.
Our Concern: Streamlining may speed up permits, but it also removes critical public‑review steps, reduces transparency, and increases the risk of unintended consequences — especially in sensitive areas like the R1 Zone. Once a Site Plan is approved, later permits cannot revisit design, environmental impacts, or mitigation needs, even if new information emerges.
Our Position: Before adopting streamlining, the City must restore early public involvement, require neighborhood meetings for Type 2, 3, and R1 Zone projects, and ensure offsite impacts (traffic, stormwater, noise, lighting) are evaluated throughout the process. Residents deserve a meaningful voice in shaping development. Not a system where decisions are made before the public is informed or where staff can grant 5–10% setback deviations without public review.
Now is the time to speak up. The City has not yet adopted these changes. Public comments and objections can still influence the final outcome. The Planning Commissioners deferred recommendations until a future meeting likely in October. Read more…
3. Critical Areas Amendments: Environmental Baseline, Monitoring, and Enforcement
The City of Anacortes is required by Washington State to update its Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) by December 31, 2026 as part of the mandatory Growth Management Act (GMA) periodic update. This update is not optional — and it matters. These laws determine the long‑term health of our wetlands, streams, shorelines, aquifers, wildlife habitat, and geologically hazardous areas. They also require special consideration for salmon.
Now is the moment for residents to speak up. Write the City today and tell them what you expect from the new Critical Areas regulations.
Why This Update Matters
For more than a decade, Anacortes has lacked a functioning system to:
a. Establish Environmental Baselines
The City does not collect or maintain baseline environmental data (such as wetland condition, stream health, shoreline vegetation, or aquifer vulnerability). Without baselines, the City cannot measure change — or detect harm.
b. Monitor Development Impacts
Although monitoring is required in the CAO, the City does not perform it. Once a permit is issued, the City rarely checks whether construction is following environmental conditions, whether buffers are protected, or whether mitigation is working. Read about a group of volunteers that monitor our Storm Water Outflows on behalf of the City and how the City regards this help.
c. Enforce Permit Conditions
The City is often aware of violations — vegetation removal, buffer encroachment, grading beyond approved limits — but does not enforce. Violations are documented, but consequences are not applied.
d. Require Corrective Action When Harm Occurs
Mitigation and restoration are written into the CAO, but the City does not require them when environmental damage occurs. This leaves wetlands, streams, and shorelines permanently degraded.
Our concern: We are evaluating and providing input. Without monitoring, the City cannot know whether development is harming wetlands, shorelines, or critical habitats. Without enforcement, the City cannot require corrective actions when harm occurs,
Our position: Monitoring and enforcement must be reinstated, funded through fees and performance bonds, and applied consistently. Development can fund a robust planning department that provides services A-Z.
Why a DNS?: The City issued a Determination of Non Significance (DNS) for this Critical Areas Ordinance update, meaning it claims the update will not significantly harm the environment. Under SEPA, a DNS avoids deeper environmental review. But Anacortes has no baseline data, no monitoring program, and no enforcement system. Without those tools, the City cannot know whether its regulations protect critical areas, making the DNS questionable and incomplete.
4. A $95 Million Sewer System Upgrade
The City is preparing for a wastewater treatment overhaul estimated at $95 million — one of the largest infrastructure expenses in Anacortes history. Without careful planning, this project could lead to significant increases in utility rates for residents.
Our concern: Growth is a major driver of increased wastewater demand. Yet current planning does not clearly identify how much of the cost will be borne by new development versus existing ratepayers.
Our position: Residents should not subsidize growth. Development must pay its fair share of the infrastructure it requires.
5. Growth‑Driven Infrastructure Costs
New development proposals — including large increases in housing capacity — will require expanded roads, utilities, stormwater systems, shoreline protections, and emergency services. These costs can be substantial, and without strong accountability, they often fall on residents.
Our concern: Anacortes risks approving growth without fully understanding the long‑term financial impacts or establishing mechanisms to ensure developers cover those costs.
Our position: We need to get ahead of upcoming proposals. Infrastructure planning must be transparent, data‑driven, and financially responsible.
6. City Financial Strain and Recent Staff Layoffs
Anacortes is currently experiencing significant financial pressure, resulting in recent staff layoffs and reductions in service capacity. This is a critical warning sign: the City is struggling to maintain existing operations, even before considering major new growth or infrastructure expansions.
Our concern: When a city is financially strained, rapid growth can worsen the problem — requiring more staff, more infrastructure, and more services at a time when the City is already cutting back.
Our position: Before expanding growth capacity or approving major development proposals, the City must stabilize its finances and ensure it can meet existing obligations. Growth should not outpace the City’s ability to manage it.
7. Shoreline Master Program (SMP) Compliance Failures
Independent analysis (FACET/DCG Watershed) shows that Anacortes is not meeting core SMP requirements, including:
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Mitigation sequencing
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Critical areas review
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Vegetation conservation standards
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Bonding
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Five‑year monitoring
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As‑built verification
These failures mean the City cannot demonstrate no net loss of shoreline ecological functions, as required by state law.
Our concern: Weak compliance puts sensitive habitats at risk and exposes the City to legal and financial liabilities.
Our position: The City must adopt the FACET recommendations, restore monitoring provisions, and ensure shoreline development follows the law.
8. Public Participation and Transparency
Many of the City’s most consequential decisions — zoning changes, infrastructure planning, shoreline permits — occur with limited public visibility or unclear documentation.
Our concern: Residents often learn about major proposals only after decisions are nearly made.
Our position: Anacortes needs modern, accessible, transparent public engagement systems so residents can participate meaningfully in shaping the city’s future.
Why This Matters
If we do not address these issues now, residents could face higher costs, reduced quality of life, and development that does not reflect community values. Your voice ensures that decisions are grounded in community needs — not development pressure.
Stay Informed. Stay Involved. Shape Anacortes’ Future.
Smart Growth Anacortes will continue monitoring these issues, providing clear public information, and advocating for responsible, resident‑centered planning.
Visit our homepage to learn more or get involved.
