Certain city leaders have long targeted the industrial Goldie Road area for annexation into Oak Harbor in hopes of capturing increased sales and property tax.

Now, Goldie Road is knocking on the city’s door.

On Jan. 31, local contractor Ron Wallin submitted a letter of intent to annex from owners of properties on the east side of Goldie Road, which is on the north end of the city.

The letter identifies owners of over 85 percent of the acreage in the annexation area as being in favor of coming into the city.

The request consists of 25 parcels and many businesses, comprising nearly 124 acres on the east side of Goldie Road. The property runs from Technical Drive to Ault Field Road.

The property owners requested that construction of sewer service be included in an annexation agreement.

“To expedite, facilitate, and construct the sewer system in the most economical process, we would propose that we, the property owners, would advance the project funding, and administer the design and construction of the sewer system with reimbursement to the property owners from the City of Oak Harbor,” the letter of intent states.

City Development Director Steve Powers said he doesn’t yet know how much of the cost of the sewer service the landowners want the city to pay or exactly how much the project would cost. It’s simply too early in the process to have many details.

Bringing sewer service to the Goldie Road area, dubbed the North Whidbey Enterprise Area, has long been a priority for city leaders interested in spurring the economy. Last year, the Island County commissioners awarded the city $1 million in rural county economic development funds to help build sewers in the Goldie Road area.

Annexation of the Goldie Road area is a specific policy in the city’s comprehensive plan.

On Tuesday, the City Council will vote on whether to move forward with the annexation as proposed, geographically modify the area, or reject the annexation.

Councilman Paul Brewer has already asked the staff to consider including the property on the west side of Goldie Road in the annexation.

The property on the east side of Goldie Road has been designated as planned industrial park zoning. The land on the west side includes planned industrial, industrial and commercial zoning, according to Powers.

By choosing to move forward, the city council will not commit to anything, but will only be taking another step forward, specifically by authorizing the circulation of a formal petition to property owners.

The petition will return to council, along with staff analysis and a proposed annexation agreement.

Based on the property owners who signed the letter of intent, Powers said the proponents could probably choose to annex through either of two methods — annexation by valuation or by acreage.

You can reach News-Times reporter Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynewstimes.com or call 675-6611.