As most of you know, the City of Anacortes is embarking on its once-a-decade update of the city's Comprehensive Plan. The Comp Plan's goals and policies provide the framework for how our neighborhoods, commercial districts and industrial areas will develop in the coming years.
Or, perhaps I should say, "re-develop", because nearly all of the land within our city limits has already been developed in some form - and some locations have been re-developed more than once.
If Anacortes is to provide more future retail options, well-paying jobs, affordable housing, waterfront access, healthcare, recreation opportunities, and other things desired by the community, while preserving our small town character and beautiful natural environment, some difficult choices are facing us.
Consider our residential zones - there are a few vacant lots here and there, but the acreages that allowed development of large subdivisions such as Skyline and Copper Pond are gone. Where, then, should we locate affordable family housing for new residents? Or luxury condos for retirees? Should some neighborhoods become more dense? Should we have more multi-family areas? If so, where?
Downtown has been fully built out for many years. Future development there will, of necessity, involve demolition of existing buildings on Commercial Ave. or on the side streets. The same is true of the South Commercial retail strip. What do we want to preserve? Which existing structures should go - and what should we build in their place?
There is still some manufacturing acreage available along Highway 20, but any in-town industrial business development will displace existing uses. What kinds of industry do we want there? Some industries are noisy, smelly, and have lots of traffic. Should they be restricted from certain areas? What impacts should residents tolerate in order to encourage jobs?
The large area of vacant land between R Ave. and Fidalgo Bay has already been through several cycles of re-development (timber was cut to build homes, which were torn down for "urban renewal", small businesses were built, larger companies bought them out and consolidated the land, operating for many years before they closed). MJB bought this industrial property over 20 years ago but has not been able to reach agreement with the citizenry on what the next phase of re-development should be. Is it time to re-zone some of this land for other uses? If so, what uses should go where?
Some marine industries need to locate on the waterfront. How much of the limited shoreline should be available for marine businesses, and how much set aside for public access to the water?
What about the hospital? We value good medical care, but hospital expansion will necessitate tearing down existing residential and/or commercial buildings. Should medical uses be confined to a specific area or allowed to disperse throughout the city, displacing other businesses?
Change is inevitable. Anacortes has already gone through many cycles of development and re-development in its short history. This Comprehensive Plan update is one of the tools we can use to help guide change in positive directions in the coming decades.
You can be part of the decision-making process. Send your thoughts and suggestions to
Cynthia Richardson is an architect and artist who served for 17 years on the Anacortes City Council and Planning Commission and is a member of the Community Advisory Committee for the Comprehensive Plan update. She writes an occasional guest commentary for AnacortesNow on issues of community interest.