FI-swain-102206.pdf

Here’s a copy of e-mail correspondence received from William Swain of Anacortes, dated October 22, 2006. (16 Kb, Acrobat® file)

FI-dyer-102306.pdf

Here’s a copy of e-mail correspondence received from Michael Dyer of Anacortes and replied to by Bill Grimes of Studio Cascade, dated October 23, 2006. (16 Kb, Acrobat® file)

Work on the South Fidalgo sub-area plan is set to resume on October 18th, when the first of several meetings is held to involve area residents in shaping what will eventually consitute the County’s growth and development strategy for the area. The meeting will take place from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at Brodniak Hall at Anacortes High School.

The meeting will re-initiate work originally begun in 2003, when the County appointed a citizen and technical advisory committee to develop land-use strategies in response to projected growth figures, as well as to meet requirements of the State’s Growth Management Act (GMA). Recommendations from the earlier process - essentially setting 2.5-acre lot sizes across the entire study area - proved problematic from many residents’ viewpoints and even State requirements, and has been set aside according to County officials.

The meeting on the 18th is intended to examine the first process, and to allow residents to refine or develop the long-range “vision” for South Fidalgo Island regarding criteria such as areas for preservation, housing, transportation, and utilities. The eventual sub-area plan will evolve from the broad-brush goals and objectives developed in this strategic vision process, said Bill Grimes of Studio Cascade, the Spokane-based firm hired to prepare the draft plan. “We see the first meeting as a way to revisit previous efforts and either re-affirm or re-shape the basic assumptions of how folks want the South Fidalgo area to grow,” he said. “A strong vision for Fidalgo will give us a strong foundation for a plan that truly fits the community.”

The meeting will feature a review of previous work, and ask attendees to identify key features and characteristics of South Fidalgo through group discussions, presenting these to the larger audience at the conclusion of the event. Subsequent meetings will develop schematic land-use alternatives, outlining various ways the area could develop over the next 20 years. The process is expected to produce a draft strategic vision document by March of 2007, from which the County will prepare a fully detailed land use and policy framework - the actual sub-area plan - for eventual adoption.

Extensive information, including dates for future meetings, documents, exercises and coverage of the process will be posted on a project-specific website at http://www.fidalgo.studiocascade.com. Visitors will be able to comment on many of the site postings, according to consultants. Results and findings from the previous effort is also available for review on the County site here. Residents are encouraged to contact County planner at (360) 336-9410, Extension 3175 for more information.

AA-brief-101606.pdf

Here’s a “news brief” article previewing the Wednesday, October 18th meeting, written and as published in the Anacortes American, October 16, 2006. (980 Kb, Acrobat® file)

AA-walker-081806.pdf

Here’s an article regarding the hiring of Studio Cascade, Inc. to produce a “strategic vision” as the first step toward the development of a new South Fidalgo subarea plan. Written by Elaine Walker, published in the Anacortes American, August 18, 2006. (380 Kb, Acrobat® file)