Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Consultants propose near‑term action plan to catalyze attainable housing, Main Street vitality and quality jobs
Summary
Consultants from Better City LLC told Oak Harbor councilmembers they shifted from a full strategic plan to a focused action plan that targets attainable housing, downtown Main Street activation and recruiting quality jobs tied to local talent over the next two to five years.
The consultant team from Better City LLC presented an economic development action plan focused on three near‑term priorities: attainable housing, Main Street vitality, and recruitment of quality jobs that match local assets.
The consultants said they pivoted from a longer, more expensive strategic‑plan approach to a smaller, implementation‑oriented plan driven by existing community planning and a steering committee. Their work identifies practical next steps to move from plan to on‑the‑ground projects over the next two to five years.
On housing, Better City emphasized that state growth obligations and affordability targets require more than conventional single‑family development. The consultants recommended advancing town‑center and mixed‑use concepts and then packaging specific, development‑ready project ideas and incentives so the city can attract developers that will deliver more attainable units.
On Main Street, the team recommended: (1) creating a stronger visual and wayfinding gateway at the State Route 20 / Pioneer Way approach so visitors are drawn toward downtown; (2) targeted retail recruitment tied to a realistic market assessment; and (3) a coordinated business‑support program to help downtown merchants improve hours, merchandising and joint promotions.
On quality jobs, Better City proposed focused research to define the specific commercial opportunities tied to nearby Navy and advanced‑technology skillsets and then a targeted outreach/recruitment program aimed at those sectors. The consultants said Oak Harbor’s labor pool and regional partners could be leveraged to recruit smaller, high‑value employers rather than relying solely on large industrial land deals.
Implementation approach: Better City proposed standing up working groups for each priority, using local stakeholders and their networks to create shared accountability, and recommended the consultant team lead initial implementation steps and outreach. The firm proposed using remaining budget from the original RFP to support early implementation activities and broker targeted recruitment contacts.
Council questions addressed implementation sequencing and realistic expectations about recruitment. Councilmembers stressed the challenge of land availability and logistics for larger floor‑area employers, while also supporting targeted outreach by a staff or consultant lead. The consultants recommended starting concurrent, short‑term actions to identify low‑hanging fruit while being ready to seize serendipitous opportunities.
