The annexation of the Fairwood area to Renton has received the formal go-ahead from the Boundary Review Board for King County.
The vote last week was 9-0, with one member, A.J. Culver, abstaining because he had not attended the public hearing on the annexation in March in Fairwood.
Fairwood residents will vote on whether to annex in November.
The vote means that in the board’s view the annexation meets all the state’s criteria for an area to annex, related to such key items as services, economics and land characteristics.
“The annexation to the City of Renton of the Fairwood Area (including the Soos Creek Park and Trail) will support a harmonious, efficient plan for the governance of the built community, preservation of the environment, and protection of the public health and safety of the citizens,” the board wrote in its conclusion.
The board also approved changing the annexation boundaries to include the stretch of the Soos Creek Park and Trail north of Southeast 208th Street.
That change was supported by Renton, Kent and King County, which didn’t want an unincorporated island within Renton.
Concerns were raised at the public hearing whether Fire District 37, which is administered by Kent, would continue to provide fire services to a southern part of the annexation area.
Renton and Kent have met on the issue and are now working out how much Renton will pay to the fire district to continue providing services to that area.
The review board did not address the fire issue in its decision, but mentioned it in its analysis.
