It looks like the old metal Copeland Lumber buildings that have sat empty on the side of Highway 20 in Oak Harbor for years will finally be demolished.

Kent Thomas of Bellingham-based KT Development has made preliminary application with the city of Oak Harbor to turn 3.5 acres on the corner of Highway 20 and NE Seventh into a commercial development.

His plans, if approved, would mean the Copeland Lumber and Diamond Rental buildings would have to be razed.

His plans also rely on the Oak Harbor City Council to not only approve his application, but agree to vacate a 408-foot portion of NE Izett Street that runs through the site, which he cobbled together from several adjacent properties.

Thomas’ site plan application for his “Harbor Station” project consists of five buildings, totaling nearly 49,000 square feet.

One of the buildings is tentatively labeled as a farm supply store, a second as a drive-through coffee shop, a third as a two-story office building and a fourth as retail space, according to the site plan application.

The fifth building is labeled as a fitness center with five additional small retail or restaurant spaces.

Thomas said he can’t comment on the specific businesses that may become tenants until negotiations are settled in a month or so.

In the meantime, Thomas is in the process of obtaining permission to demolish the existing buildings.

While he had hoped to get started right away in the new year, Thomas said the beginning of actual construction will probably be delayed until March.

If everything goes as planned, the new businesses will open sometime next October or November.

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