Oak Harbor begins comprehensive-plan amendment to meet state growth targets; city allocated 16% of county growth
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Summary
The mayor said Oak Harbor and its urban growth area were allocated more than 16% of Island County’s projected growth over 20 years under state requirements; the city is amending its comprehensive plan to add climate and resiliency elements and expects completion by June 2026.
Oak Harbor officials said the city is preparing a major amendment to its comprehensive plan to comply with the Washington State Growth Management Act and to reflect assigned population growth over the next 20 years.
Why this matters: the comprehensive plan guides land use, housing and infrastructure decisions; city staff said Oak Harbor and its urban growth area have been allocated "16 plus percent" of Island County’s projected growth and that the amendment will include a new climate element with a resiliency subelement.
The mayor said the city is working with consultants and the state to update the comp plan and development regulations. The mayor reported the comprehensive-plan amendment is expected to be completed in June 2026. City staff also said the city is recruiting for a community development director to lead redevelopment and long-term planning efforts.
The address framed the comp-plan work as part of a multi-step process tied to state requirements: the Growth Management Act requires periodic updates and the city described its intent to align land-use regulations, infrastructure planning and housing strategies to that framework. The mayor noted the comp-plan amendment will include housing, infrastructure and climate resiliency work but did not provide ordinance numbers or public-hearing dates in the address.