NCTA Request Moves to Council

Monday, June 29, 2009

The Northwest Career and Technical Academy’s proposed Anacortes marine technology building moved another step forward last week when the Planning Commission OK’d its conditional use request.

The academy needs a conditional use permit to build the school at the Port of Anacortes’ 6-acre Parcel 1, located east of Q Avenue between 17th Street and Seafarers’ Way. The property is zoned commercial marine. The permit request is scheduled to be heard by the City Council July 6.

Supporters say the center will bring a skilled work force to the community, help businesses expand and hopefully attract new businesses to the area.

According to planning documents, the proposal includes the construction of a single story 15,120-square-foot building with classrooms, labs, an assembly area accommodating up to 140 people, administrative offices and a 2,600-square-foot storage building.

Four main labs will be organized around a central project area. Future expansions may include a lecture/administrative building of about 4,200 square feet and lab expansion of about 3,800 square feet. Organizers expect to welcome the first class in September 2010.

At the June 10 meeting, planners reviewed parking at the site after Commissioner Bertis Rasco questioned the amount of spaces included in the proposal. According to information submitted to the commission, the site is expected to have more than 50 on-site parking spaces. That is more than required by city standards. The Port of Anacortes is partnering with the skills center to provide parking for the center as well as shared parking that will be used seasonally by port tenants.

The project provides an additional 120 parking spots to the north of the skills center. “There’s at least twice as much parking as needed,” said Bob Hyde, port executive director.

The skills center also plans to work with the nearby Northwest Educational Service District 189 to reconfigure access to allow people to take advantage of some parking in the ESD lot.

“You’ve got a lot of commitments but they’re not in writing. That’s what bothers me,” Rasco said. Commissioners agreed the parking provided on-site was adequate. “Parking is based on this proposal and this proposal only,” said Commissioner Clay Leming.

“I think they’ve more than met the requirements,” added Commissioner Lin Folsom.

 

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