Two large swatches of industrial-zoned real estate on Goldie Street won’t become commercial land, at least not anytime soon.

The Oak Harbor City Council finally completed the 2006 Comprehensive Plan amendments at last Tuesday night’s meeting by rejecting recommended land-use changes on Goldie Street, which is in the north end of the city.

Likewise, they turned down a proposal for a broader definition of the C-4 commercial zoning district on Highway 20 land north of the city — in the area of Flowers Marine — which could have led to greater commercial opportunities.

At the same time, the council passed an ordinance that formalizes amendments that they agreed upon in December. These amendments create a policy to add redevelopment incentives to NE Midway Boulevard and change the land-use designation on land on SE Midway Boulevard, Atlas Street and a small parcel on Highway 20.

The idea of changing the land-use designation of Goldie Street property evolved from a study by Oak Harbor planning staff that showed the city may not have enough commercial land, especially large parcels, to meet the needs of the growing community.

It’s an issue that wasn’t resolved and will likely persist in coming years.

The unanimous votes represent the end of a year-long comprehensive plan amendment process that drew hundreds of people to hours of meetings. Two controversial proposals, that would have allowed a large-scale commercial development and a large-scale residential development, were pulled by the sponsors in the face of public opposition.

But after all that analysis, it wasn’t until after the city council members closed the public record on the amendments and were on the verge of voting that Councilwoman Sue Karahalios pointed out that the city had previously passed a resolution limiting development north of 16th Avenue.

Tuesday, Development Director Steve Powers did an about-face and recommended that the council reject the three proposals based on a letter from Capt. Syd Abernethy, commanding officer of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.

Abernethy wrote that he was concerned that a change in the zoning of land near the Ault Field base would lead to residential uses within the noise zones.

Yet the three rejected recommendations may not be dead forever.

Councilman Paul Brewer requested that the comprehensive plan task force look at tailoring commercial zones in the three areas at the north end of the city to be compatible with the Navy base, which would probably mean restricting residential uses.