Othello Planning Board tables annexation vote

OTHELLO — The Othello Planning Commission agreed Monday evening to delay for a month any recommendation to the city council on a proposed annexation of property southwest of the city, including a large, planned apartment complex.

“There are a lot of questions, and I have big concerns about this development,” said Planning Commissioner Chris Dorow. “There are too many question marks here.”

The planning commission is considering a petition from Pintail Properties, owners of roughly 14.5 acres of land southwest of the city, south of Highway 26 and Moon Street between McCann Street and the canal that forms much of Othello’s western border.

According to the meeting agenda, Pintail is asking the city to annex its land — the current site of 42 homes and apartments — to have access to city water and sewer services. Dorow was concerned about the cost of extending water and road improvements in the area, as well as how quickly city emergency services could respond to problems.

Travis Goddard, development director for the city of Othello, said several proposals are being considered to extend water — including a loop to ensure proper pressure for fire hydrants — and improve the roads to make the area ready for any future development.

This is especially significant given that much of the land the city would like to annex between the Pintail parcel and the current western boundary, which followed the curves of a railroad track, is currently zoned industrial — property the city sees as essential for its future.

“It’s in the long-term interests to [annex and] develop this,” said Othello Mayor Sean Logan, speaking for himself during the public comment period. “We lack a type of light industrial property in this city.”

However, other landowners in the area were concerned about whether they could be compelled to be part of the annexation, what it would cost to hook up to city water supply, and whether there would be any way to recover those costs in the future.

“This area is nothing but a rock pile, and it’s not ready for annexation,” said Art Simmons, who owns about 3.5 acres between the proposed annexation and the current city boundary.

Simmons said improving the roads in the area “might be a nice thing,” but he is not sure how he could recoup any costs involved in being forced to hook up to city water and sewer lines.

“How am I going to make money on this deal?” he asked.

Goddard said the city has adequate water capacity to extend pipes out to the proposed annexation, and is currently working on a “long-term plan for industrial water treatment.”

If the city were to compel the annexation of all the land in the wedge between the canal and the railroad tracks, Goddard said it would be acquiring a few acres devoted to legal marijuana cultivation — something the city would have to tolerate despite an ordinance prohibiting marijuana farming within city limits because permits and zoning from the state and county would continue to be valid even if the land was annexed to the city.

The board also decided to invite representative from Pintail to its next meeting. No members from the company were present at Monday’s meeting.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.