During recent weeks leading up to and immediately after the November election, newspaper articles and letters all seemed to portray the Fairwood area’s future as either incorporation or annexation to Renton. Both of these options require voter approval; but for many of us living at the southern end of the Fairwood area (Soos Creek plateau), neither option has any great appeal.

Comments from neighbors seem to reflect a desire to be left alone. Granted, King County does not want to directly deliver government services out in the suburbs, but seem perfectly willing to do so (i.e. Sheriff, roads) through another level of bureaucracy. Additionally, if annexation had to occur, there is probably much more support for annexing to Kent, not Renton. Several subdivisions neighboring Big Soos Creek have homes with a Kent address (ZIP 98042), have fire service contracted to the City of Kent, attend schools in the Kent School District, have a Kent telephone prefix and now are just a few blocks from the Kent city limits. From South 200th Street, Kent City Hall and Renton City Hall are both about 4.25 miles as the crow flies.

Obviously, the City of Kent is busy digesting its Panther Lake annexation area, and Renton just recently figured out one speed limit on Benson Road was the way to go, so perhaps annexation anywhere is way down the road. But, nobody should assume there is large support for annexation to Renton based on this month’s incorporation vote failure.

Don Villeneuve

Renton