BIRCH BAY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A community organization plans to present new avenues to help Birch Bay become its own city.

The Birch Bay Incorporation Association will be holding a public meeting Thursday to discuss their personal research into incorporation.

My Bellingham Now previously reported on a similar study conducted by a consulting firm last year. Community Attributes Inc., who the Whatcom County Council hired to conduct the study, found that incorporating Birch Bay wouldn’t be financially possible.

But the Birch Bay Incorporation Association (BBIA) disagreed with their findings, opting instead to conduct their own research.

The area’s current population of nearly 9,000 is already on par to be Whatcom County’s fourth largest city if incorporation happened today. BBIA estimates that the area’s population could spike to nearly 13,000 within the next ten years.

Community members can attend Thursday’s 6 p.m. presentation at North Bay Community Church.