Island County population allocation change narrows Oak Harbor's projected growth; Coupeville largely unaffected

Island County staff told Coupeville planning commissioners on Sept. 16 that the county board has revised countywide population targets, lowering the county’s medium population projection and removing a portion of Oak Harbor’s planned urban growth expansion from the current county allocation.

Planner (name not specified) summarized the county process and the practical effect: the county’s previously adopted medium projection of about 102,639 residents was adjusted downward to a figure near 98,626. That change was made primarily to remove a portion of Oak Harbor’s anticipated urban growth-area expansion after Oak Harbor and county planners could not reach a ready agreement on the infrastructure and land-capacity information the county requested.

The planner told the commission that Coupeville’s allotment of dwelling units and population did not change under the county revision; the town’s numbers and land-capacity expectations remain as previously adopted in the comprehensive plan. The change instead affected Oak Harbor’s allocation and the county’s overall total.

Island County is leading the process, and commissioners are expected to adopt an ordinance to reflect the revised countywide numbers. The county planning commission has already held hearings; local ratification will follow a public hearing process. The planner said the town will hear a similar update to its council, and Coupeville will hold a public hearing as part of its state-required comprehensive-plan process, likely in October.

Commissioners asked whether the county figure was tied to a separate low-growth projection. Staff said the revised number sits below the original medium projection and above the county’s low projection; staff described the figure as a negotiated, “backed-into” number based on Oak Harbor’s land-capacity analysis and the county’s willingness to move forward without the requested urban-growth-area expansion.

The planner added that the countyremains responsible for urban growth-area (UGA) designation and the legal defense of those boundaries in comprehensive-plan processes and appeals. Commissioners were told that county and Oak Harbor planners are willing to appear at a future Coupeville meeting to answer questions.

No formal action by the Coupeville Planning Commission was taken on Sept. 16; the session served as an update on countywide planning policy and the schedule for forthcoming public hearings and council briefings.