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City's 2007 Comprehensive Plan is approved! |
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Updated
3/17/2007 |
The City of Anacortes has been working on an update to our
Comprehensive Plan since 2005. It was approve in Jan.
2007. The resulting documents
can be found here.
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School District lowers bond request to
$59.8M. |
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Updated
3/17/2007 |
The Anacortes School
District has pared their request down from the original
consideration of $76M. To learn where those cuts have
taken place,
Click
Here.
Meet with School Officials to discuss bond
request
Meeting on Wednesday, March
21 @ 7:30PM
at Skyline Clubhouse, 6041 Sands Way
in Skyline
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Anacortes Marine Trade Association
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Updated
3/17/2007 |
The Anacortes Marine
Trades Association presented their needs to the Port Commission.
View the video of the meeting and visit their website, plus
learn what segments of the marine trades contribute the most to
our economy in Taxable Retail Sales. Learn
More
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Port of Anacortes starts Comprehensive
Planning Process |
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Updated
3/17/2007 |
The Port is updating their 1999 Comprehensive Plan and will be
focusing on 3 areas: 1)Cap Sante Boat Haven, 2)Marine Terminal
and 3) Anacortes Airport and they have established an on-line
user group to obtain comments from the community.
Learn More |
| Anacortes Senior
College |
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Updated
3/17/2007 |
Learn more about this
unique concept and how you may be able to benefit at their
website Click
Here. Also, attend their open house on Friday, March
9, to meet instructors, tour the campus (Anacortes Middle
School) and meet others interested in life long learning!
Visit
Anacortes Senior College website for more info. |
| New FHOG Blog! |
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Updated
2/22/2007 |
Now you have an
opportunity to provide your thoughts on local issues and see
what your neighbors have to say. Learn more about the new
FHOG Blog here
or visit the site by clicking the link above and to the right. |
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Big Box Stores isn't the issue... |
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Updated
2/22/2007 |
City Councilman
Petrish speaks out about the need for a plan to guide our
choices for added retail, tourism and support of the marine
trades; all in an effort to improve our future fiscal issues.
View his
comments here.
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We have a problem, now what do we
do about it? |
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Updated
2/22/2007
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Terry Christiansen
shares his thoughts about what Phase 1 of the Economic Study
found and what we should be doing next.
View letter
here |
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So many opportunities...
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Updated
2/22/2007 |
City Councilman Loren
Hoboy recently wrote a letter outlining the many "opportunities"
facing Anacortes. He starts with his thoughts regarding
the 50,000 sq. ft. limit on retail buildings, touches on the
Berk Economic Study and provides an overview of several
issues defining Anacortes' future.
View letter here. |
| Big Box isn't the issue... We
need a Plan & Vision
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Updated
11/24/2006 |
Nick Petrish shares his
thoughts on the issues facing Anacortes and provides a recommendation on
how we move forward in a recent City Council meeting.
view it here
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| Port of Anacortes Budget |
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Updated
11/23/2006 |
The Port of Anacortes
proposes a 2007 budget that will increase taxes over 2006 levels.
Learn More
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Updated
11/23/2006 |
Most respondents (72%) want
improved retail options in Anacortes. But that is where agreement
ends! View
more on the survey here
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| Retail Survey Survey
Closed |
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Updated
11/6/2006 |
The October 25, Anacortes
American had a front page article indicating Fred Meyer's interest to
build one of their stores in Anacortes. If you missed the article,
you can view it here. Give us your thoughts on what you'd like
to see for retail in Anacortes.
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| Commercial Required on First
Floor |
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Updated
8/3/2006 |
Even though the Planning
Commission decided to not make this a requirement in the Comp Plan, the
City Council has added it back in. This could double add an amount
of commercial space equal to the current CBD. Is this good or bad?
Read more. |
| I-933 |
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Updated
8/2/2006 |
Be careful for what
you wish for… you may get it.
Learn More |
| San Juan Passage (Gilbane)
Appeal |
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Updated
8/2/2006 |
The 100 home development at
Ship Harbor has been appealed. The City Council will review it on
Monday, August 7.
Learn More |
| New City Data: Population and
Number of Buildings |
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Updated
7/4/2006 |
In its first 80 years,
Anacortes had 9,000 residents. It will take less than 35 years to
add the next 9,000. In also took 80 years to add 3,500 buildings,
but only 25 years to add the next 3,500 buildings.
Visit it here. |
| Study Session Summary on FHOG |
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Updated
5/18/2006 |
The City Council Meetings are
not televised, so FHOG is trying to give you a summary of what is being
discussed. On the meeting schedule page, notes and agreed to
updates will try to be posted for each meeting.
Visit it here. |
| City Council Comp Plan Work Sessions |
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Updated
4/26/2006 |
City Council has established
a tentative schedule for Comp Plan Study sessions, starting May 3.
View Schedule |
| Comprehensive Plan Survey -
Final Results |
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Updated
4/21/2006 |
A total of 143 people
responded to the survey as of 4/14/2006. Most are willing to
consider a residential element in a mixed-use development and larger
retail stores. View more details
here. |
| Comprehensive Plan Survey -
Closed |
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Updated
4/6/2006 |
The City has extended the
date it will accept information into the record regarding the Comp Plan
Update. The City has held open the record until 4/21/2006,
allowing the Survey to remain open until 4/21/2006.
Take Survey Here |
| Comprehensive Plan Survey -
Closed |
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Updated
3/29/2006 |
Two BIG issues will be in
front of the City Council on April 10 as they take public testimony
regarding the Comprehensive Plan. You have the opportunity have
have your voices heard on 1) Larger retail stores and 2) Residential in
a mixed-use development along Fidalgo Bay.
Take Survey |
| Comprehensive Plan Update |
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Updated
3/29/2006 |
The city has been going
through a process to update the Comprehensive Plan since the Summer of
2005. The Planning Commission has made its recommendations and the
City Council will be hearing testimony from the public on April 10
regarding this proposal. This is when the City Officials decideif
Anacortes will to allow larger retail stores and if residential will be
apart of the Fidalgo Waterfront project. Learn
More
What's a Comp Plan? |
| FHOG in the News! |
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Updated
3/12/2006 |
Newspapers around the country are writing
stories about "Sunshine Week" and how citizens use the law to obtain
government documents to put some "sunlight" on government issues.
Read about how
FHOG got it's start. |
| Fidalgo Backyard Wildlife
Habitat Project |
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Updated
3/11/2006 |
While a few who live on Fidalgo Island have
had families living here for generations, most of us are transplants
from other areas far and wide. Many reasons abound why people
choose to call this small island home, but if you are like my wife & I,
its world class natural beauty, rural living and abundance of wild life
are at the top of the list. The Fidalgo Backyard Wildlife Habitat
Project is an attempt to minimize the impact we have on the island and
the "critters" we share it with. Learn more
about how to join the effort. |
| City of Anacortes Economic
Study |
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Updated
2/11/2006 |
The City of Anacortes has entered into an
economic study to determine long range (20 year) fiscal analysis of the
City. View the
results of the study here. |
| Ship Harbor Still Under Review
PC sends issue back to City Council recommending a re-zone to
conditional use. |
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Updated
2/11/2006 |
Remember? An out of state developer want
to put up about 100 homes just east of the ferry terminal, in CM zoning.
The Planning Commission recommended to the City Council a rezone to
residential, not to use a conditional use permit. What's the
difference? A conditional use permit will likely be more lenient
for the builder, allowing narrower streets and more houses.
But the City Council rejected the recommendation.
Read what Council members & others are saying. |
| Tree Clearing & Topping at
Airport
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Updated
12/23/2005 |
Tree clearing and topping is underway at the
Anacortes Airport. Take a look. |
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 Improving
accessibility for People With Disabilities in Anacortes. |
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Updated
11/6/2005 |
The City formed the Barrier Buster Committee
to improve the quality of life for People with Disabilities (PWDs). As a
result of their efforts, improvements have been made to disabled parking
in downtown Anacortes and at Green Point in Washington Park.
Visit there website to
learn more. |
| Tree Conservation Committee
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| Updated
10/2/2005 |
Anacortes' Citizen Advisory Committee for Tree
Conservation is meeting every Monday afternoon @ 5:00 PM; discussing the
need for and elements of a Tree Conservation policy and or associated
ordinances. Meetings are held in City Council chambers at City Hall.
All are invited to attend. Learn
more on what is happening to our trees. |
| Waterfront at Fidalgo Bay
Survey
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| Updated
11/6/2005 |
Provide your thoughts on the Waterfront
project by participating in a survey sponsored by MJB Properties.
Here is your chance to provide input on key issues being considered in
the Comprehensive Plan that are related to this project. Click
Here to take the survey. |
| Tree Conservation Committee
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| Updated
10/2/2005 |
Anacortes' Citizen Advisory Committee for Tree
Conservation is meeting every Monday afternoon @ 5:00 PM; discussing the
need for and elements of a Tree Conservation policy and or associated
ordinances. Meetings are held in City Council chambers at City Hall.
All are invited to attend. Learn
more on what is happening to our trees. |
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Updated
9/27/2005
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All Anacortes residents are
invited to attend another FHOG Forum to be held on Wednesday, October 12,
2005 @ 7:00PM. All Port Commission candidates have been invited to
participate. This is your opportunity to meet and ask questions of
your Port representatives. The Forum will be held at Skyline's
Clubhouse. |
| More on Ship Harbor |
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Updated
9/18/2005
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Portalis - Commercial Marine
property, lost to housing... along with the views that commercial marine
zoning is intended to preserve. Take a look
into Ship Harbor's future
Most of the 20+ years Ship
Harbor was "For Sale", it was off the market.
View Timeline |
| Planning Commission Reviews Comprehensive Plan
Meeting Sept. 21 |
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Updated
9/18/2005
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On
September 21, the Planning Commission will meet to discuss the proposed
revisions to the 2005 Comprehensive Plans. The weekly meeting have
ended and copies of documents are available on links below. Meeting
attendance increased from only 5 citizens in our first meeting to well
over 20 for following meetings! Hardly a representation of our
citizenry, but not bad for weekday afternoons.
Learn More
View Draft 2005
Comprehensive Plan
View Proposed
Revisions submitted by MJB Properties in support of The Waterfront at
Fidalgo Bay. |
| Offer made to purchase Anacortes
Airport |
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Updated
9/18/2005
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View Skagit Valley Herald article
Learn more about the offer and what it would mean to Anacortes
Update: Port agrees to place issue on advisory Ballot
Learn More |
| Ship Harbor Meeting Dates Set!
9/7 & 9/27 |
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| Updated 9/6/2005 |
The Planning Commission
will review and hear public comment on the proposed Conditional Use Permit
at Ship
Harbor to clear the way for 2 housing developments, comprised of 174
homes. Currently Ship Harbor, an area east of the ferry terminal
along Guemes Channel, is zoned Commercial Marine. A
Conditional Use must be approved by the Planning Commission and City
Council before the construction begins. If history tells us
anything, be prepared to see this scenic hillside clear cut!
Learn More About Ship Harbor
Another question we should ask... why did the Port
of Anacortes need to sell this land for residential development?
View the Port Meeting
Minutes Regarding Ship Harbor |
| Review Port Plans to Remove Trees
@ Airport ---OOPS! |
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| Updated
8/22/2005 |
The City
and the Port work to develop a plan on a sensitive subject, cutting trees.
Then what happens, they cut the wrong trees! Now they are trying to
determine who's at fault. Let's see what they determine, but when
the lead Port official is quoted as saying, " When the sawyers rev their
chain saws, they have to cut something". I believe their is a lack
of understanding on the Port's part as to the importance we place on our
environment. And it shows a lack of sensitivity to the wishes of
Anacortes' citizens.
Learn More About Why The Trees Are Coming Down
Learn More about the Mistake
Letter to Port Regarding Tree
Clearing Incident - New! |
| Why do we Continue to Build in
Unsafe Areas? |
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| Updated
8/13/2005 |
The WSDOT has developed
guidelines for compatible use of land around an airport. Much of the
development around the Anacortes' airport occurred prior to these
guidelines, however building still is being approved by the City in areas
where WSDOT recommends, "Prohibit All Residential Land Uses".
Learn More |
| 2005 Comp Plan Update Letters |
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| Updated 8/3/2005 |
Written comments are being taken by the City
in support of the Comp Plan Update. Copies of letters are available
here: Chapter 1 - Population
Chapter 3 - Commercial
Chapter 3 - Tourism
Do you have Comp Plan documents you wanted posted?
Contact Us |
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| Updated 8/3/2005 |
MJB has proposed a $250 million
hotel/retail/restaurant complex in the area along the waterfront, south of
SHS. Take a look at their proposal on-line and participate in an
open forum discussion and ask questions. |
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