by Elaine Walker
Supporters of proposed design standards and regulations intended to help preserve Old Town’s character dominated an Aug. 11 public hearing on a draft zoning code overlay for the neighborhood.
Eight residents spoke in favor of the draft overlay, and only two others expressed any concerns with the proposal.
Public comments on the matter will be accepted by the city until 5 p.m. Aug. 29. The council, which opted to postpone their discussion until after the Labor Day holiday, will decide Sept. 15 whether it will move forward with the city’s zoning and development regulations update.
Consultant Mark Hinshaw spoke in favor of the draft, which he said was updated during a roundtable discussion July 22.
At that meeting, about 20 participants reached consensus on several changes to the Planning Commission’s version of the overlay district. He said the proposal does not impact existing homes unless owners undertake major renovations.
“It’s simple, not overbearing or heavy handed,” he said.
Hinshaw said the overlay will provide the area’s character with some degree of stability and safekeeping.
He lauded the neighbors for the civility of their debate, and said it is unusual for citizens to take such a direct role in crafting the wording of an ordinance.
“This for us has been a very rewarding and interesting process,” he said.
With mostly minor changes, the Old Town standards are the ones endorsed by a group of 42 neighbors, based on a framework of proposals by Hinshaw. The standards were recommended for approval by the Anacortes Planning Commission in June and tweaked during the roundtable meeting.
At the hearing, two speakers voiced their qualms with the overlay. One was Karen Marshall, chair of the Anacortes Historic Preservation Board, who simply pointed out that its provision on the role of the preservation board contradicts the city ordinance that established the board.
The other was Curt Oppel, who spoke against an outright ban of planned unit developments. He recommended the PUD process be allowed for projects such as cottage housing, as long as the projects meet the rest of the proposed overlay standards.
Deferred until next year is a proposal to include an area currently zoned for high density in the proposed overlay area.
Several property owners in the area have submitted letters opposing the change. Mayor Dean Maxwell said such a change would require additional notifications and hearings.
“We can have that conversation later, if the community wants it,” he said.
Documents related to the overlay are posted at http://www.cityofanacortes.org/Planning/OldTown/index.asp.
