Having recently adopted a major update to the housing element, Island County is now looking to evaluate the next section of its comprehensive plan — economic development.

Planning staff recently met with county commissioners to discuss what work the update will entail.

The element is meant to provide a framework of goals and policies that facilitate economic development and resiliency in Island County.

The first phase of work will involve performing a baseline analysis of current economic conditions in the county.

This will include gathering data on demographics, permitting, labor force characteristics, employers, infrastructure, land availability, ordinances and policies that impact economic growth, according to the scope of work.

“These are all things that I think are ways that we can cast a broad shadow across the county to set the tone for economic development,” Beverly Mesa-Zendt, assistant planning director, told commissioners.

Staff also plans to separately analyze potential opportunities and perform a market study of the island gateways, which include Clinton, Deception Pass and the Coupeville ferry terminal area.

Commissioner Jill Johnson said that during the update, she would like staff to evaluate the potential of using overlays to create more density in some of the gateway areas.

She said she hopes to cluster retail and other businesses more closely than is allowed by rural zoning to increase economic potential without sprawling.

“I don’t want it to be one use per five acres,” Johnson said. “… That doesn’t accomplish anything other than sporadic sprawl.”

During the next phase, staff will engage in community and stakeholder outreach.

According to the draft scope, stakeholders will include local economic development partners, government and vital institutions, key employers, financial intuitions, chambers of commerce and other elected officials.

At the end of the process, an updated element will include a socioeconomic snapshot, issues that impede economic development in the county, goals and policies and an implementation plan.

Staff will also create a “gateway plan” that will identify goals and policies specifically for economic growth, retention and resiliency in the gateway communities.

Each of the three phases is estimated to take between four and six months.