Langley planners want to extend the city’s moratorium on new subdivisions in two residential zones for another six months.

City officials said more time is needed for wrap-up work that stems from the city’s update of its long-range growth plan.

The current emergency moratorium expires Dec. 4. It was instituted in June 2007 for one year and extended for an additional six months in June 2008.

The purpose of the moratorium on dividing land in the two zones for residential use was so planners could develop a new subdivision ordinance that fits with the city’s comprehensive land-use plan.

“While all this work is underway, none of the individual elements will be completed by early December,” Larry Cort, city planning director, said in a Nov. 13 letter to Mayor Paul Samuelson and the Langley City Council.

The council will study the proposal to extend the moratorium at its next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, at City Hall. A workshop session will be at 4 p.m.

“While we’ve been making progress, we’re not quite done yet with the work that justified the moratorium in the first place,” said Councilman Robert Gilman.

“I am hopeful that what we will be able to do is to allow some of the smaller projects that there’s some interest in, and allow them to move forward,” he added. “Given the overall economic climate, there’s not a lot of pressure for bigger projects.”

The council also will study four proposals for use of the city’s vacant fire station on Second Street. The station became superfluous with the completion of Island County Fire District 3’s new fire station on Camano Avenue.