Pending developments would bring 520 homes to Oak Harbor

The city of Oak Harbor has nine applications from developers for residential subdivision projects that may someday help put a healthy dent in the area’s housing shortage, city officials said.

If all of the projects get permits and are built, they would add 520 housing units to the city. About a third of them are multi-family, which means apartments and condos.

Development Services Director Steve Powers said the number of projects that have been submitted for review is a healthy sign and significantly more than he’s seen in the last few years. They are in various stages of permitting.

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Yet when and if construction begins on a project — and whether it’s done in phases — is up to the developer.

“It’s tough to predict when conditions are right for builders to pull the trigger and get started,” he said.

Powers also explained that the city has no way of knowing how affordable the housing will be, except in the case of a 51-unit, low-income housing project proposed on Pioneer Way by the nonprofit group Low Income Housing Institute.

The city’s hearing examiner is scheduled to consider the proposal at 1 p.m., June 18 at the Elks Lodge.

The largest of the proposals is a Wright’s Crossing project on the hillside across from Safeway. The master plan community may include as many as 192 single-family units.

The development group also submitted plans for an 11-house project in Scenic Heights.

Garry Oaks plat is envisioned as a development with 135 single family lots on Highway 20 at the south end of the city.

A multi-family project with 131 units is proposed for the area of Pioneer Way and Regatta Drive. A condo project on Barrington Drive, across from the post office, was submitted for 20 units.

Marin Woods, a subdivision on Swantown Avenue with 46 single-family homes, is moving forward after being on the back burner for a bit, Powers said.

Two apartment projects have been submitted for areas off Fort Nugent Avenue. One would have 60 units and the other 12.

In addition, Powers said, the city has a steady stream of applications for single houses being built in lots around the city.