The Philomath City Council moved forward with the process of annexing 10 properties into the city by approving an ordinance and ballot title resolution that puts them on the May 2026 ballot.
The Planning Commission and City Council reviewed the proposed annexations and found them to meet applicable land-use laws and island annexation criteria. There are seven separate island territories that include nine tax lots and one piece of a public right-of-way.
State law requires that each annexation proposal must be listed separately on the ballot, a requirement meant to prevent voters from being forced to approve or reject a combination of annexations.
If voters approve of the annexations, properties with residential zoning or use would be brought into the city limits three years later, or when the property is sold, whichever comes first.
The 10 properties have a combined total size of 15.5 acres with a mix of zoning that includes low-density residential, medium-density residential, industrial and public right-of-way.
The city has not annexed any island properties since 2018.
The ordinance was approved unanimously on a roll-call vote. The resolution passed on a 7-0 vote.