Mandatory porches and raised ground floors are out and curb cuts are in — at least existing curb cuts and those on streets perpendicular to alleys — in the latest version of an Old Town zoning overlay draft, which was approved by the Anacortes Planning Commission June 25.

With a few tweaks, the adopted proposal was the one crafted by a dozen Old Town neighbors, who reworked earlier draft design standards and regulations recommended by consultant Mark Hinshaw. The amended proposal was circulated and signed by 42 neighborhood residents.

The zoning overlay draft will move forward to the Anacortes City Council, who will schedule a public hearing on it as part of a zoning code update, Munce said.

According to a new provision, consultation with the Historical Preservation Board will be voluntary, not mandatory. The 42 neighbors recommended that permit costs be reduced for those restoring homes, but this concept was removed because it does not meet state law, said City Planning Director Ian Munce.

The maximum continuous wall length along a side yard is 40 feet. Buildings may be longer but shall incorporate setbacks, recesses, or offsets of at least 18 inches in depth and at least 5 feet in length so that no increment of wall exceeds 40 feet. This is 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.

Other provisions:

• Buildings may be a maximum of 35 feet 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.

• Maximum land coverage shall be 35 percent for single structures and 50 percent for multiple structures.

• Any roof over 16 feet shall have minimum pitch of 4:12.

• Garages must be within 20 feet of an alley.