With the two affected property owners on board and the Oak Harbor City Council’s approval of an ordinance allowing the formation of a Local Improvement District, long-awaited Bayshore Drive improvements are inching towards fruition.

The City Council unanimously endorsed forming the LID at Tuesday’s regular meeting.

The section of Bayshore Drive connected to the vacant properties south of Burger King and 7-Eleven will receive renovations in the form of sidewalks, street lighting, storm drainage and other appurtenances.

Improvements will be made by completing Bayshore Drive from SW Beeksma Drive to SW Erie Street, providing the necessary roadwork.

An LID does not involve construction, but is rather a method for funding improvements through bond sales, said City Engineer Eric Johnston. David Wilson and Carl Freund, the property owners whose parcels will benefit from the renovations, were in favor of the project. The city’s budget, however, included sufficient funding for the project and a bond issuance will not be necessary.

The estimated cost of the project is $681,000, of which $459,000 would be assigned to the city’s contributions and the balance to the landowners.

Passage of the formation ordinance triggered a 30-day protest period, after which time the project will issued for public bidding.