What is the City requesting comment on? The City of Port Angeles is undergoing a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for its 2025 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Review. For more information on SEPA and the public process, see "What is SEPA" below.
The State Environmental Policy Act, or SEPA, looks at the environmental impacts of government decisions. The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC) provide statutory rules and guidance for environmental review (42.21C RCW and WAC 197-11). SEPA provides a framework for:
- Identifying environmental impacts and potential mitigation
- Agency, public, and Tribal review and input
- Informed decision-making
SEPA applies to a wide range of actions but is generally categorized as either “project” review or “nonproject” review (sometimes called programmatic review). Project review includes public and private development projects (e.g., subdivisions, highways, industrial facilities). These are proposals resulting in construction of some type. Nonproject review deals with plans, policies, ordinances, and other administrative procedures. The SEPA review for the City of Port Angeles Comprehensive Plan Update is a nonproject review and focuses on what types and intensities of development may occur given the new policy direction, rather than on the specific impacts of any individual development proposal.
Currently, the City is requesting public comment on the EIS alternative scoping. Scoping includes what alternative outcomes and the topics that should be evaluated to understand the alternative's impacts on Port Angeles.
What is EIS Scoping? An Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS, is the format for documenting the SEPA review when a proposal is likely to have significant environmental impacts. Generally, an EIS is an informational document that provides the City, public, and other agencies with environmental information to be considered in the decision-making process for a proposal. It also allows agencies, affected tribes, and the public to comment on proposals, alternatives, and environmental impacts.
The EIS provides an “impartial discussion of significant environmental impacts and shall inform decision makers and the public of reasonable alternatives, including mitigation measures, that would avoid or minimize adverse impacts or enhance environmental quality” (WAC 197-11-400).
The basic contents of an EIS include a summary chapter, a description of the proposed action and alternatives, existing conditions of the study area, impacts that may occur if an alternative were implemented, and mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate impacts. Impacts to both the natural and built environments are evaluated and often include topics such as Geology and Soils, Air Quality, Water Resources, Plants, Animals, and Habitat, Noise, Land Use and Housing, Public Services and Utilities, Transportation, Historic and Cultural Preservation, and Visual Resources and Aesthetics.
Why is the City requesting comment? The City is requesting comment to help choose a preferred alternative to move forward in the Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update.
Who can comment? Anyone and everyone is welcome to provided comment.
When must comments be provided by? The commenting deadline is April 30, 2025, however the City will continue to accept and review comments made after this deadline.
How can I comment? Public comment can be made by contacting, Ben Braudrick, Planning Supervisor, Bbraudri@cityofpa.us.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Project: Vision 2045 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update
Description of Proposal: The proposal is a non-project action to update the Comprehensive Plan per state requirements. Vision 2045 will update the existing plan by providing a refreshed perspective of the land use, development, and transportation options serving the city while complying with state, regional, and county requirements.
Proponent: City of Port Angeles
Location of Proposal: City of Port Angeles – Citywide
Lead Agency: City of Port Angeles, Washington
EIS Required: The lead agency has determined this non-project proposal is likely to have a significant adverse impact on the environment. An environmental impact statement (EIS) is required under the State Environmental Policy Act (RCW 43.21C.030 (2)(c)). Generally, an EIS is an informational document that provides the City, public, and other agencies with environmental information to be considered in the decision-making process for a plan, program, or new development. It also allows agencies, affected tribes, and the public to comment on proposals, alternatives, and environmental impacts. An EIS describes: proposed actions and alternatives, existing conditions of the study area, impacts that may occur if an alternative were implemented, mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate impacts, and potential significant, unavoidable, and adverse impacts.
The lead agency has identified the following areas for potential discussion in the EIS:
- Land Use & Housing
- Transportation
- Water Resources
- Climate
- Natural Hazards
- Parks, Recreation, and Open Space
- Public Services & Utilities
- Capital Facilities
A Draft EIS will be published for review by the public, affected tribes, and agencies. After receipt and consideration of all comments, the City will choose a preferred alternative to move forward in the Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update. The preferred alternative may be a combination of elements that fall within the range of the alternatives analyzed in the Draft EIS. A Final EIS and Response to Comments will then be prepared.
Conceptual Alternatives: A comparative evaluation of alternative courses of action will be included in the Draft EIS. Alternatives are anticipated to include a No-action Alternative (as required by SEPA) and at least two Action Alternatives that will consider different growth levels and/or patterns.
Two Action Alternatives under consideration include the following. The final Comprehensive Plan may incorporate a hybrid of these Action Alternatives:
Distributed Growth Alternative:
- Increased housing capacity in most residential areas
- Expansions of where commercial land use is permitted
- Improved multimodal transportation networks
- Minimal increase in park land
- Citywide investments in utility infrastructure
Focused Growth Alternative:
- Majority of growth in Downtown and First Street/Front Street corridor
- Increased housing capacity in residential and commercial areas
- Focused investment in transportation, parks, and utilities
- Minimal growth in all other areas of the City and Urban Growth Areas
Public Comment and Scoping: Agencies, affected tribes, and members of the public are invited to comment on the scope of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan and related project environmental impacts. You may comment on alternatives, mitigation measures, probable significant adverse impacts, and licenses or other approvals that may be required. Comments will be accepted on:
- Growth alternatives
- Probable significant adverse impacts
- Mitigation measures
Public Comment Period: The comment period is open from April 1, 2025, through April 30, 2025. To submit a comment, please email the project manager at the address below or attend an upcoming public meeting.
Public Open House: April 17, 2025, 4:00-7:00 PM, Port Angeles Senior and Community Center, 328 E 7th St, Port Angeles, WA 98362
Project Manager and Agency Contact:
Ben Braudrick, Planning Supervisor
City of Port Angeles EIS Scoping Comments
Community & Economic Development
321 East 5th Street, Port Angeles, WA 98362
(360) 417-4804
Bbraudri@cityofpa.us
SEPA Responsible Official
Shannen Cartmel, Director of Community & Economic Development
scartmel@cityofpa.us
For more information on this process, and to submit comments directly to the Vision 2045 Comprehensive Plan Update team. Please consider attending an upcoming public meeting or emailing the project manager. Upcoming meeting dates and times will be posted on the project website at: https://www.cityofpa.us/937/Vision-2045-Comprehensive-Plan-Periodic-