The Oak Harbor Planning Commission decided to extend the deadline for the annual Oak Harbor Comprehensive Plan amendment process to Friday, May 29, because the city received zero applications by the previously-set deadline of April 30.

Each year the city accepts requests from property owners to change their land use designation during the annual Comprehensive Plan amendment process, which takes about seven months to complete.

The extension applies to anyone who would like to change their property’s land use designations, said Cac Kamak, senior city planner.

The city typically receives several applications each year, Kamak said, so this year’s lack of response is unusual.

Approved land use changes enable property owners to develop or protect their property in the way that best suits their personal or business needs. This past year, the planning commission and the city council approved changes to three different properties, one of which created a whirl of controversy over a senior mobile home park on Goldie Road.

City staff will consider changes to the Oak Harbor Comprehensive Plan regardless of the number of applications received, Kamak said.

Other amendments being considered include an update to the Capital Improvements Plan, the addition of the goals and policies of the already-adopted Parks Recreation and Open Spaces Plan, among other possible amendments described as “discretionary” in the city’s legal notice for the extended deadline.

Applications are available at Oak Harbor City Hall, 865 SE Barrington Dr., or online at oakharbor.org. For more information about the Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment process and for regular updates, visit the city’s blog http://cohcomprehensiveplan09.blogspot.com.