Two unpopular design standards have been removed and four additional blocks have been added to a draft Old Town zoning overlay, which was approved by the Anacortes Planning Commission June 24.

The overlay draft, standards intended to help preserve the character of the neighborhood, will move forward to the Anacortes City Council, which will schedule a public hearing on it before considering it as part of a zoning code update.

City Planning Director Ian Munce said it was important to get new standards on the books before something is built that alters the area’s atmosphere. The city currently has no design standards to protect the neighborhood from drastic change.

“That’s the dilemma: We can’t say no to building permits if they meet our standards,” he said. “I really want to get started.”

With a few tweaks, the proposal moved forward by the Planning Commission was the one crafted by a dozen Old Town neighbors who got together to rework earlier draft design standards and regulations recommended by a city-hired consultant, Mark Hinshaw. The group’s proposal was circulated and eventually signed by 42 people.

“I’m impressed with the proposal of these 42 Old Town residents,” said Commission Chair Laurie Gere.

The largest change from previous proposals is the inclusion of four additional blocks to the overlay area — the blocks between 10th and 12 streets and M and O avenues.

“We will be notifying those folks by mail of a hearing at city council,” Munce said.

The group of 42 wanted to extend the district north to Guemes Channel.

“I think it is a mistake to define Old Town by zoning rather than geography,” said Hal Rooks, one of the signers of the proposal.

However, Munce told the Planning Commission the city has a tradition of zealously protecting industrial areas such as the sites with deep water access along Guemes Channel, and recommended that housing remain a conditional use in that area.

“We don’t want to create a situation where industry gets pushed out,” he said.

Gone from the original set of proposed design standards are mandatory porches and raised ground floors. The new proposal allows curb cuts — at least those that already exist and those on lettered streets, perpendicular to alleys.

Buildings may be a maximum of 35 feet tall if the upper floor is set back from the street and not greater than 80 percent of the floor below, and if no exterior wall higher than 25 feet is closer than 15 feet to an adjacent property line.

Commissioner Clay Leming suggested that a better height restriction would be to limit builders to the average height of neighboring buildings.

Munce said that many different height recommendations were made but that this version has received the most support from the neighbors who have submitted written comments or spoken at public meetings.

“This is a much more modest proposal,” he said.

He said the commission could recommend more stringent restrictions on height and scale, but noted that the only temporary limit the council was willing to impose was a 3,000-square-feet limit on building footprints. The draft overlay requires that single-family homes with a footprint over 3,000 square feet and duplexes over 4,000 square feet include additional side yard setbacks to keep them from looming over neighbors.

“We at least address the concern of mega mansions,” Munce said.

The overlay draft asks that scale of the surrounding block be considered voluntarily by builders, but does not require it. Maximum land coverage shall be 35 percent for single structures and 50 percent when including accessory structures such as garages and shops.

The draft requires that any roof over 16 feet shall have minimum pitch of 4:12 and that detached garages be within 20 feet of an alley.

Another new provision makes consultation with the Historical Preservation Board voluntary, not mandatory. The 42 neighbors also recommended that permit costs be reduced for those restoring historic homes, but Munce said this is not allowed by state law.

“The tax structure is the tax structure and we’re restricted on what we do,” he said.

As previously recommended, maximum continuous wall length along a side yard is 40 feet. Anything longer must include setbacks, recesses, or offsets of at least 18 inches in depth and at least 5 feet in length, a reduction from the previous proposal.

As in past versions, the draft prohibits triplexes and fourplexes, except for replacement of an existing structure if it is destroyed by fire or other disaster. The draft also prohibits planned unit developments.

Commissioner Lin Folsom said that those seeking building permits in Old Town should get a written statement detailing the neighbors’ desire to protect the area’s character. Munce said such a vision statement will be made available at the Building Department.