Plans for a new fire station and ambulance bay in Coupeville have stalled as officials hash out permitting details.

The facility, which is being developed jointly by Central Whidbey Fire District and Whidbey General Hospital, is hung up while the hospital administration tries to obtain permits for a chunk of land.

“We put an offer on a parcel of land late last summer,” said Scott Rhine, hospital CEO. “We want a conditional use permit to transfer our helipad there.”

The land has not yet been purchased and the conditional use permit is needed before the deal would go forward.

Both fire district and hospital officials are looking at this joint project to see if it would save money for each.

If the land — a lot between the station’s North Main Street station and the hospital — is purchased, a proposed helicopter landing pad would be adjacent to the emergency ambulance entrance.

Rhine said planning for the project is still in its early stages and that the hospital’s helipad would have to be relocated if a project with Central Whidbey Fire District could move forward.

“It’s kind of holding up our project,” said Joe Biller, Central Whidbey Fire District chief.

Larry Cort, Coupeville town planner, said he expects to receive a revised application for a conditional use permit any day. He said national standards concerning a helipad have to be researched to determine how they apply to the town.

“We will look at specific impacts at that specific location,” Cort said. “If all negative impacts can be mitigated, then it will be approved.”

Central Whidbey Fire District wants to build a facility large enough to accommodate four fire trucks, a meeting room and sleeping quarters for three people.

Biller speculated the cost of building a new station in Coupeville could be close to $1 million. Once built, the current Coupeville station will be demolished.

Biller said remodeling the station’s current location was considered, but the cinder-block building didn’t meet seismic standards and would be cheaper to destroy it.

He said the project is still in the early stages and wouldn’t speculate on a completion date.

The fire district’s Race Road station in Greenbank was built two-and-half years ago and cost approximately $750,000.