Public comments are still being accepted for one more week on an important planning document focusing on South Whidbey’s gateway community – Clinton.

The Clinton Subarea Plan is part of the larger Island County 2045 Comprehensive Plan Update, which aims to guide population growth over a 20-year period and determine where it goes.

Clinton is designated as a Limited Area of More Intense Rural Development, or LAMIRD. This means growth in Clinton is limited by access to, and availability of, sewer and water systems.

Island County commissioners discussed this week the possibility of Clinton becoming a Non-Municipal Urban Growth Area, or NMUGA, like Freeland, but it’s a process that would likely take years. Lack of urban level infrastructure is also a challenge.

Commissioner Melanie Bacon observed that there appears to be an interesting attitude in Clinton. People tend to want more sidewalks and walkability – pedestrian safety in the area is a primary concern – but they also want the area to retain its rural character.

Subarea plan elements include transportation, economic development, utilities, environment and climate, land use, housing and parks and open space.

To view the entire 83-page Clinton Subarea Plan, visit islandcounty2045.com/compplan/clinton. Comments on the plan can also be made directly on the website, by email to compplan@islandcountywa.gov or by mail to Planning and Community Development Department, 1 Northeast 7th Street, Coupeville, WA 98239.

The deadline for accepting comments is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 21. The subarea plan will be finalized this fall and the county comp plan will be adopted in December.