HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-03-25 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Minutes—March 25, 2015
At 7:00 p.m. Mayor Laurie Gere called the advertised special joint meeting of the Anacortes City Council
to order. Chairman Marty Laumbattus called the advertised special joint meeting of the Anacortes
Planning Commission to order. Roll call found present City Councilmembers Brad Adams, Liz Lovelett,
John Archibald, Matt Miller, Erica Picket, Ryan Walters and Eric Johnson; Planning Commissioners
Jeremy McNett, Allen Rhoades, Grace Pollard, Christina Hansen, Curt Oppel and Marty Laumbattus; and
Anacortes Community Advisory Committee (CAC) members Tal Jackson, Bruce McDougall, Walter
Guterbock, Lin Folsom, Andy Stewart, Nick Rennis, Vernon Lauridsen, Adrian Fewing, Cynthia
Richardson, Wayne Huseby, and Gary Christensen. As advertised, the meeting convened in the Reid
Harbor Room of the Northwest Educational Service District 189 offices at 1601 R Avenue in Anacortes.
Preferred Land Use Plan for the 2016 Comprehensive Plan Update
Planning Director Don Measamer encouraged open discussion at the evening's session during which
consultant Makers would review the results from the fourth community workshop regarding land use
concepts, then the CAC would present its recommendations for Economic Development/Jobs and Retail.
Mr. Measamer summarized the scope of the 2016 Comprehensive Plan update due by June 2016, the
roles of the CAC, PC, City Council and staff in preparing the update, and the schedule for the remainder
of the process.
Nick Rennis and Andy Stewart of the CAC Land Use, Economic Development and Tourism group read a
prepared statement expressing concern about the roles of the CAC and the consultant in developing
options and preferred alternatives. Mr. Measamer thanked CAC for the enormous amount of work product
it had generated, assured that all of the CAC's material had been shared with staff and the consultant,
and advised that the CAC recommendations would help formulate the draft goals and policies scheduled
to be developed later in the spring. He said the process was still at the point of evaluating the potential
impacts of the range of options for each proposal. Bob Bengford of Makers concurred.
Mr. Bengford reviewed the results of Community Workshop#4 regarding land use alternatives as
presented in the packet materials for the evening. CAC members responded to a number of the
alternatives discussed.
Regarding R2 lot size alternatives, Ms. Richardson, member of the CAC Housing and Transportation
group, noted that some sub-areas of R2 zones may need different treatment.
Regarding R4 density alternatives, Ms. Richardson observed that her group had forwarded another
suggestion, to allow lower density single family homes as well, which was not presented as an option at
the workshop. Mr. Oppel observed that rezoning for higher density does not guarantee that the allowed
density will be achieved. Mr. Measamer noted that housing would be the focus of the discussion at the
next joint meeting scheduled for April 8, 2015. Mr. Lauridsen, a member of the CAC Land Use, Economic
Development and Tourism group, suggested that the community consider the possible reasons for
accommodating new development in each zone but not to assume that more development is better
everywhere.
Regarding CBD height limits, Mr. Walters inquired how economically feasible the proposed alternatives
would be.
Regarding an R Avenue Regional Retail Overlay, Consultant Greg Easton of Property Counselors
summarized the expected economic benefits and adverse economic impacts of large format retail. Mr.
Rennis observed that this potential alternative was proposed by the consultant rather than the CAC. Mr.
Guterbock and Mr. Lauridsen questioned the logic behind Mr. Easton's retail leakage calculations. Mr.
Easton explained that the analysis was based on spending patterns by type of store, consistent with
comparable analyses in the field. Mr. Lauridsen argued that Anacortes residents are purchasing the same
types of items in Anacortes at other types of stores. CAC Administrative Support Volunteer Kirk Kennedy
reported that Anacortes exceeds the state per capita average for retail sales largely due to auto and boat
Anacortes City Council Minutes March 25, 2015 1
sales. Mr. Measamer reminded that none of the land use alternatives considered at Community
Workshop#4 were recommendations, only options being discussed for public input.
Regarding the SR-20 corridor, Ms. Richardson mentioned an additional possibility discussed by CAC but
not presented as an alternative at the workshop: allowing stores larger than 50,000 SF in the existing
CBD.
CAC Recommendations for Economic Development/Jobs and Retail as related to the 2016
Comprehensive Plan Update
Mr. Measamer invited the Land Use, Economic Development and Tourism group of the CAC to report its
recommendations for preferred alternatives and findings.
Mr. Guterbock reviewed the group's report on economic development which was included in the
evening's packet materials. Mr. Stewart urged all present to read the group's report in full and to talk to
the landowners who control the land.
Mr. Guterbock, Mr. Walters, and Mayor Gere briefly discussed the need to improve truck routing from
SR20. Mr. Measamer suggested he would have the transportation comprehensive plan consultant look at
that question. Mr. Walters objected to the transportation comprehensive plan being separate from the
comprehensive plan.
Ms. Lovelett suggested a year round tourist destination such as the Imagine Museum in Everett. Mr.
Guterbock mentioned the Sydney, BC aquarium as another such attraction. Mr. Archibald said the
Council, Planning Commission and CAC needed to evaluate which alternatives were economically
feasible. Mr. Measamer advised that over the next two months a draft report of preferred alternatives
would be prepared, then public hearings on that draft would begin before the Planning Commission. He
reminded that after the 2016 Comprehensive Plan was completed and adopted the city would then have
to draft development regulations and strategic/action plans to implement the preferred alternatives work.
Mr. Lauridsen next reviewed his group's report on retail, particularly large scale retail, which was included
in the evening's packet materials. Again, Mr. Stewart urged those present to read the complete report.
Ms. Lovelett urged concluding the longstanding debate about a big box store in Anacortes and said
survey data show that most residents don't want a Fred Myer, they want local flavor and local character.
Mr. Guterbock said defining and keeping the character of the town is the key question. Eli Barrett, 1404
15th Street, urged participants to agree to disagree about large scale retail and address the other land use
topics raised during the evening. Mr. Walters suggested a more systematic approach to evaluating retail
alternatives for Anacortes but urged that the comprehensive plan not be sidetracked by that one issue.
Ms. Richardson noted that the city can zone for what it would like to see but cannot force a landowner to
develop its property. She urged setting aside discussion of the MJB land and addressing land uses for the
other properties in town. Mr. Measamer summarized the apparent desire for another workshop
specifically addressing retail and for more information regarding barriers to smaller scale retail.
Mayor Gere thanked the members of the CAC for their contributions to the ongoing comprehensive plan
update process. There being no further business, at approximately 9:15 p.m. the advertised special joint
meeting of the Anacortes City Council, Anacortes Planning Commission, and Anacortes Community
Advisory Committee for March 25, 2015 was adjourned.
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