What will Island County look like in 2045? That is the question Island County’s next comprehensive plan will be answering. By 2045, Island County is anticipated to have 102,639 residents, that is more than 15,000 new residents.

A comprehensive plan guides growth over a 20-year period and determines how and where growth will occur. The goals and policies in a comprehensive plan should reflect a communities’ values.

Island County’s Comprehensive Plan update is due by December 31, 2025. Throughout 2024 and 2025 we will be asking for feedback to inform the update process. Share your thoughts and help shape how our community will grow.

No prior experience is needed – you don’t need to be an expert in comprehensive plans to speak up. Maybe you are brand new to Island County, or maybe you are a lifelong resident, either way - we want to hear from you!

Background

Island County is conducting a periodic update of its comprehensive plan. In 2024 and 2025, consistent with RCW 36.70A.035 and in accordance with Island County’s Public Participation Plan (Resolution C-64-23), planning department staff engaged the public in reviewing the existing 2016 Comprehensive Plan goals and policies. Input was collected through workshops at the Planning Commission, Board of Island County Commissioners (Board) meetings, online engagement, surveys, and focus groups with stakeholders.

Staff have made updates to the goals and policies to reflect the following:

• To be consistent with new state requirements under the Growth Management Act (GMA),
• To reflect Board priorities, and
• To include public input.

The revised goals and policies drafts are now available for public review and input.

What are Goals and Policies?

The elements of the comprehensive plan include of a range of information, from data and maps on existing conditions across the county, to goals and policies which set the framework for meeting the vision of the comprehensive plan. The goals and policies are meant to work together to guide future development. Goals are broad statements of desired future conditions and outcomes, while policies are more specific actions or rules designed to achieve those goals.

Goals and policies will be used to guide updates development regulations (or Island County Code). The code updates may change land use, building, and development standards in different areas across the county. These code updates will come later in our comprehensive plan update process.

As the public reviews these revised goals and policies, they should look for broad statements that will support the types of specific changes they are hoping to see. For example, if you are concerned about growth in rural areas, you should review the Land Use element and look for statements that support directing growth to denser areas. Later code updates would then define the specific zoning changes to increase growth in urban growth areas and other dense areas.

Elements with Revised Goals and Policies (click on element name to view drafts)

• Introduction Chapter – New Vision and Values
• Land Use
• Housing
• Natural Resources
• Capital Facilities and Utilities
• Parks, Recreation, and Open Space
• Climate (new)
• Economic Development
• Transportation

Elements that are not being updated during this comprehensive plan update include Historic Element, Shoreline Element, and the Freeland Subarea Plan. Additionally, a draft of the Clinton Subarea Plan was previously released for public input in February 2025 and is not included.

Comment Period

Public comments will be accepted on the revised Goals and Policies for 45-days from May 30, 2025, until July 14, 2025.

Comments can be submitted via:

• Email to compplan@islandcountywa.gov
• By U.S. Mail to the Planning and Community Development Department, 1 NE 7th St, Coupeville, WA 98239
• Via the comment submission box below

Work sessions will be held at the Planning Commission and Board meetings weekly in June and July during this comment period. The public is welcome to attend these meetings (in person or virtually) to hear the discussion and learn more about the changes to the goals and policies. Public comments are welcome at the beginning of each Planning Commission meeting. Please sign up for Comp Plan email updates to be notified of these meeting dates or check the Agenda Center on the county website for meeting dates.

Visit our Comp Plan website for general FAQs (bottom of page). If your question isn't answered there, please ask it below. Staff answer questions here every Friday.