BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A neighborhood near northeast Bellingham could soon become a part of the city.

City councilmembers voted 6-1 last Monday to consider annexing the Northern Heights neighborhood.

The 146-acre area, located between E McLeod and Britton Roads, is part of Bellingham’s designated Urban Growth Area. It houses roughly 700 people and Whatcom Fire Station 12, which is operated through North Whatcom Fire and Rescue. 60% of the neighborhood’s population signed a petition supporting the annexation last fall.

Councilmember Lisa Anderson voted against the proposal, saying that she’s concerned about those residents receiving inadequate emergency services.

“I’ve been on record that I would not support any annexation until our police department is funded to capacity,” Anderson said at the March 25 meeting. “And until we are at the levels that we have all of our special operations back and running, I think expanding our city’s boundaries is not a correct direction to go right now.” Anderson also raised concerns about Station 12 being a potential financial liability.

As a result of the vote, city councilmembers will begin a review of the potential impact annexation would have on the neighborhood and on Bellingham as a whole.