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Oak Harbor submits updated land-use options and UGA proposal to county as part of 2025 comprehensive-plan update
Summary
Principal planner Rajesh Kakkamak told council the city sent a letter and maps to Island County reflecting council guidance to increase residential density, encourage ADUs, and propose UGA expansion areas; county review and potential UGA swaps are next steps.
Principal Planner Rajesh Kakkamak briefed the council on Oak Harbor's 2025 comprehensive-plan major update on April 22, saying the city had transmitted a letter and maps to Island County that incorporate council directions from a March workshop.
Kakkamak said the submittal includes revised land-use options that reflect council input to increase allowed densities, incentivize accessory dwelling units and consider rezoning some R-1 parcels to R-2 or R-3. The letter also included proposed expansion areas for the Urban Growth Area (UGA) and specifically incorporated council direction to include the Swan Town property in the city's proposal, even though staff had previously omitted that acreage because it is noncontiguous and includes lands of rural significance.
Kakkamak described the next steps as county review of the city's distribution targets and UGA proposals; he said the county ultimately decides UGA lines and may open discussions about UGA swaps. "These are just proposed areas that the city is proposing to the county for consideration. They are the ones that make the ultimate decision on where that line is," Kakkamak said. Council members asked about conservation easements and whether proposed UGA areas overlap existing restrictions; staff said they had considered known conservation easements and clarified their maps accordingly.
Council member Wiesner asked whether the city had prepared arguments for potential UGA swaps and whether state criteria would apply to any proposed removals from the UGA. Kakkamak said staff will follow state law and remain open to county suggestions. Council member Stuckey asked about a nearby conservation easement and staff clarified its relative location to the proposed acreage.
Ending: The council authorized staff to send the letter to Island County and to continue technical analysis and outreach; staff indicated they will continue the UGA conversation as the county evaluates the city’s submittal. No formal adoption occurred at the workshop.
