Chapter 18.25
NORTH WHIDBEY ENTERPRISE AREA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES
Sections:
18.25.030 Annexation incentives.
18.25.040 Economic development objectives.
18.25.050 Pending Island County approvals.
18.25.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to encourage economic development within the North Whidbey enterprise area in accordance with the city of Oak Harbor comprehensive plan and the North Whidbey community economic diversification action plan. To further this objective, this chapter establishes annexation incentives available to properties within the North Whidbey enterprise area, and once annexed, encourages public infrastructure support in keeping with state law. (Ord. 1602 § 1, 2011; Ord. 1577 § 2, 2010).
18.25.020 Applicability.
This chapter applies to the area known as the “North Whidbey enterprise area” within the boundaries shown on Exhibit A attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter and available at the city clerk’s office. (Ord. 1602 § 1, 2011; Ord. 1577 § 2, 2010).
18.25.030 Annexation incentives.
The city hereby establishes the following incentives for annexation of properties within the North Whidbey enterprise area:
(1) Annexation Application Fees. There shall be no fee to file an annexation application for properties within the North Whidbey enterprise area. This incentive shall expire on May 27, 2015.
(2) City Assistance. The city may provide administrative assistance in the processing and filing of annexation petitions if such assistance is requested by the property owner(s). (Ord. 1602 § 1, 2011; Ord. 1577 § 2, 2010).
18.25.040 Economic development objectives.
(1) The Goldie Road sewer project (Engineering Project No. 06-50) was funded through an economic development grant and through city sewer funds contributed for economic development purposes. In keeping with the economic development goals of this project, the city will not seek to recover its share of the project costs.
(2) The city will, where feasible and when in accordance with comprehensive plan goals and policies, seek to obtain grants or other funding to support the construction of additional sewer projects within the North Whidbey enterprise area.
(3) Properties within the North Whidbey enterprise area with existing functioning septic systems are subject to the same sewer connection requirements as other properties annexed into the city after January 1, 2001 (see OHMC 14.03.060(1)(d)). (Ord. 1602 § 1, 2011).
18.25.050 Pending Island County approvals.
The interlocal agreement between Island County and city of Oak Harbor adopted in 2002 and confirmed for implementation in 2003 established a number of policies related to development within the North Whidbey enterprise area, including those related to promoting annexation, common development standards and joint review of applications. With this policy structure in place it is reasonable for the city to establish the following procedures addressing how existing or pending county approvals for properties within the unincorporated UGA will be processed by the city once those properties have been annexed.
(1) Pending Applications Requiring Administrative Decision. Applications pending with Island County for which no decision has been rendered must be re-submitted to the city for processing. The city will accept the application without additional application fee. The application will be processed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 18.20 OHMC.
(2) Pending Applications Requiring Public Hearings.
(a) An application that is pending with Island County which requires a public hearing, but said hearing has not been conducted before the effective date of annexation, must be re-submitted by the applicant to the city for processing. The city will accept the application without additional application fee. The application will be processed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 18.20 OHMC.
(b) For an application pending with Island County for which a public hearing has been conducted before the effective date of annexation, but for which a written decision has not been issued, the city will accept the written decision of Island County as the land use decision for the application.
(3) Approved Applications. The city will process development and building permits for projects previously approved by Island County as if those previous approvals occurred within the city. (Ord. 1602 § 1, 2011).