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Island County pauses action on housing targets to continue talks with Oak Harbor over UGA expansion
Summary
The Board of Island County Commissioners delayed action on revised countywide planning policies while staff and city officials continue negotiations over Oak Harbor's proposed urban growth area expansion; the county said the pause could delay the comprehensive plan update due in December and noted potential fiscal and regulatory consequences.
Island County commissioners on Sept. 23 said they will pause action on revised countywide planning policies to continue talks with the city of Oak Harbor about a proposed urban growth area (UGA) expansion and housing allocations. The board said city and county staff will meet in the coming weeks and that elected-official conversations may be needed to find a Growth Management Act (GMA)–compliant solution. "While we are still moving forward with urgency on our comprehensive plan update, this will represent, unfortunately, a delay in our process," the Board Chair said.
The pause matters because the county's comprehensive plan update is due to the state by December 2025, and commissioners and planners said missing that deadline could make the county ineligible for some state public funds if it cannot show steady progress. "Our comp plan, as you know, is due by December. ... It's unlikely we'll be able to complete the comp plan by the end of the year," Emily Neff, assistant director of Long Range Planning, told…
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