The city of Oak Harbor has gone off track in seeking funding to purchase 17 acres of commercially-zoned land on the north end of town.

While it’s a reasonable cause to create open space under the flight path of Navy jets, it’s not worth jeopardizing Island County’s Conservation Futures program.

Conservation Futures is a pot of money obtained from a property tax of about 6 cents per thousand, earmarked for properties that provide water access to the public or are environmentally sensitive.

Without Conservation Futures, the Greenbank Farm might be in private hands, there might be no public access at Double Bluff beach, Ala Spit might be mostly off-limits, the Maxwelton Outdoor Classroom might not exist, and several special places on Camano Island might be ruined by now.

These and other projects meet the definition of Conservation Futures expenditures. The 17 acres in Oak Harbor do not. Retired car dealer Don Boyer wanted to develop the land, but the city wants to keep it vacant so as not to risk building in the Navy’s “accident potential zone.” While this zone allows some development, a full-scale shopping center would be frowned upon by the Pentagon. Oak Harbor wants to do everything possible to keep the Navy happy, even if this means eliminating scarce commercial property along the highway.

The city has asked for $1.7 million from the Conservations Futures Fund, which is laughable as the fund totals only half that amount. Besides, the land is totally unsuitable as a Conservation Futures acquisition. It has no special environmental qualities and offers no public recreational opportunities.

Nevertheless, the Conservation Futures purse strings are held by the three county commissioners, two of whom are probably leaning toward putting some of that money toward the Boyer property. Mac McDowell is the prime mover behind preserving the commercial property (a first for him), and Bill Byrd expressed sympathy toward that goal. They could out-vote Mike Shelton who, we suspect, would prefer to remain true to the real purpose of the Conservation Futures Fund.

The commissioners should resist the temptation to raid this fund, which is essential to the future of Island County residents. Such a move would be greeted with cynicism by the public and could jeopardize the entire Conservation Futures program.

Both the state and federal governments have money available to help cities accommodate their military bases. That’s where the city should be looking for its money.