Allyson Ballard reports from the Coupeville Town Council meeting of Tue., Nov. 25, 2025 for the Whidbey News-Times. Read the whole story.
Summary by Perplexity AI
Coupeville is rethinking a 2004 development agreement for a 33‑acre property between Main and Broadway, but has delayed changes until a future comprehensive plan amendment in late 2026. The agreement, which uses a dwelling‑credit system for clustered high‑density housing, has produced 49 units, with 28 credits remaining out of 108. Officials question whether it now limits housing capacity amid a statewide affordable‑housing shortage. Options include keeping the agreement, revising it to match maximum state‑allowed density (raising remaining credits from 28 to 66), or a middle‑ground approach such as reducing minimum lot sizes to modestly increase capacity.
They Said It
“By doing this, we can slow down a little bit,” Mayor Molly Hughes said.
“We’re not trying to drag our feet on it, but maybe have more options or a more thought-out plan when we go to the community, the public, to see what they have to say about it,” she continued.
