Proposed annexation grows

Two more property owners on Peacock Ridge east of Olympic College Shelton have petitioned the City of Shelton to be annexed into the city.

The Shelton City Council on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to accept the proposed annexation of two properties totaling 50 acres owned by the Alpine Evergreen Co., and two properties totaling 51.44 acres owned by Terry and Patricia Bence. The council can give final approval with a vote at its meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 6.

The council April 5 voted to accept the proposed annexation of two other properties totaling 280 acres on Peacock Ridge. Green Diamond Resources owns 240 of the acres, and JPS Properties owns almost 40 acres. On July 18, the city received the request to add the four properties to the annexation request.

All the properties under consideration are in the city's Urban Growth Area.

In the city's Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map, the properties are pre-zoned as neighborhood residential.

The expanded petition now goes to the county, where the assessor will examine it to ensure it contains the signatures by owners of at least 60% of the land's property value.

The county will then provide formal public notice of the request, and set a date for a public hearing before the Mason County Commission.

According to the city report from its community development department, the council during this process can "accept, reject, or geographically modify the proposed annexation and requirement of assumption of any existing city indebtedness."