(Marine skills Center site plan)
Plans to build a Marine Skills Center in Anacortes are advancing and the City Planning Commission is set to review a request for a Conditional Use Permit.
The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the Conditional Use request on Wednesday night at City Hall. The plan calls for construction of a classroom campus for the Northwest Career and Technical Academy, a joint project of Skagit Valley College and school districts in Skagit County.
When complete, the facility, to be located just east of Q Ave. and south of Cap Sante Marina, will operate as an integral part of the Skagit County’s high schools. It will provide students the opportunity to obtain job preparation skills through hands-on education, applied academics and technology training for the marine industry.
The facility, which will cost an estimated $5.6 million to construct and as much as an additional $2-4-million for equipment, is expected to be ready for students in Sept. of 2010. Construction is expected to start this Sept. The facility will be located on land owned by the Port of Anacortes, which is planning on developing a parcel between the skills center and Cap Sante Marina.
The campus will offer technical education focused around boat building, repair and maintenance of recreational and small commercial craft.