An annexation request for a home on Sandy Point Road was retracted before formally going before the Langley City Council at its regular meeting Nov. 16.

The owners’ decision, however, came several days after interim planning Director Jack Lynch sent his formal recommendation to reject the request to the council and mayor.

“They didn’t want to get into some big deal,” Lynch said of the annexation process and the owners’ retraction.

Langley recently reduced the size of its urban growth area — a set space outside city limits that dictates new development and densities greater than what’s permitted in rural county areas. The 10-acre property formerly requested for annexation is adjacent to the city limits and within the current urban growth area.

Given the city’s recent decision to reduce its urban growth area and the low population projections over the next 20 years, Lynch said the city could not justify expanding its borders. More than that, there are no plans to provide urban services, a requirement of the urban growth area within 20 years, to that area.

“Through this county comprehensive plan update process, it was determined Langley had adequate land in the existing city limits to accommodate growth for the foreseeable future,” Lynch said.

City leaders have lamented the lack of sewer connections to its lines because it means more maintenance costs and a higher shared cost for the service among fewer residents. Currently, the sewer plant and system is operating at less than full capacity, and adding more homes and businesses to the city’s system has been argued as a way of reducing maintenance costs and even possibly lowering rates.

“The more people, potentially the lesser the bill is,” Lynch said.

Asked if expanding city limits could be one way to accomplish that goal, Lynch said the city wants to focus its growth within the current boundaries.