For the third time this year, a public meeting will be held to determine how the plans for the Langley Small Boat Harbor should be drawn.

At a meeting this week, the Langley City Council and the Port of South Whidbey met to prepare for a large public meeting to be held on Wednesday. The two agencies got a sneak peek at the newest draft comprehensive plan for the harbor and an early explanation of a phased harbor expansion project from Jim Brennan, principal landscape architect for the project from J.A. Brennan Associates in Seattle.

In the meeting Wednesday afternoon, Brennan explained that a new draft has been made from the two previous plans presented in October, when South Whidbey residents pointed out the aspects of the plan they did and didn’t like. After the October public meeting, Brennan said his company tried to balance the comments and requests with the newest plan.

“This isn’t just anywhere in Washington state,” Brennan said of the local desire to create a special harbor. “It’s really a mixing in of the two alternatives.”

Now planned to take place in three phases, Brennan said the harbor expansion is on “middle ground” between the first two plans presented in October. The first phase of the project will create space in the harbor for 120 to 150 boats — including the existing 38 slips. As second phase could make room for up to 230 boats, he said.

A third phase involves replacing the existing harbor structures. No time line for the three phases was given, as Brennan said Langley could continue or delay the project for any amount of time.

The proposed sling launch is not on the newest plan, and the new plan is to make improvements to the existing launch. The current launch ramp at the harbor extends into shallow water and regularly fills in with drifting sand.

“Right now it’s such a gentle slope,” Brennan said.

Also modified from the first two plans is the amount of pavement to be laid around the harbor. Brennan said the parking areas in the plans were trimmed to make more green space for residents who wished to see a park area, rather than a sea of cars and trailers.

Jack Lynch, Langley’s city planner, said while there will be some parking available for cars and trailers, the city hopes to encourage the majority of people to park off-site so the park will be more pedestrian friendly.

Included in the new plan is a small boat facility for small sailboats, kayaks and canoe-sized vessels, which Brennan said would increase the number of people who could utilize the harbor.

Land acquisition was another idea broached at the meeting. The new plan shows private property originally shown in the plan as being purchased and used by the city as remaining private. What will be added to the plan are extra buffers to shield the properties on both sides of the harbor from the resulting increased traffic.

“This will generate more traffic,” Brennan admitted.

Brennan explained that his company considered the concerns of everyone who had voiced sensitivities over previous plans. By reducing the scale of the plans and the environmental impact, Brennan said he hoped the new plan will make everyone happy.

The meeting on Wednesday will help the developers obtain feedback sooner so they have a greater time to work with the changes. According to Lynch, they city of Langley is aiming for a March 1 deadline to complete the comprehensive plan. He said the plan is still subject to further changes, so they want to allow plenty of time for people to voice questions and comments before it is completed.