Renton and Fairwood: Ahead of the curve together

FAIRWOOD voters rejected two incorporation ballot measures in three years, the latest last week, paving the way for a smart partnership with Renton.

Residents in the tiny, suburb southeast of Renton want improved municipal services and the benefits of a larger tax base. Time to renew annexation efforts. Set a date for a municipal marriage.

Renton has long wanted to absorb Fairwood's 25,000 residents. A lengthy and contentious debate about Fairwood's future has resulted in two ballot measures to incorporate; both were defeated.

A workable alliance can be forged by Renton and Fairwood.

King County has pushed to move nearly a quarter of a million residents from urban unincorporated areas into cities. There have been a few incorporations, such as Newcastle and Sammamish, but the preferred route has been annexation. An example of the county's success is Kirkland's potential annexation of Finn Hill, Kingsgate and North Juanita, which was on the ballot last week. The results are not finalized but the annexations are passing.

King County has helped by offering incentives, from one-time financial help to turning over assets such as parks or public utilities.

Fairwood rightly rejected incorporation, hopefully for the last time. With a small commercial tax base, Fairwood would have struggled to provide basic services.

Incorporation efforts should turn to an understanding of how much Renton can offer its neighbor. Political representation is at the top of that list. Fairwood residents have two elected representatives, the King County Executive and a member of the County Council. As part of Renton, representation would grow to include a mayor and City Council.

Basic services are likely to improve as Fairwood residents shift from county services stretched thin to a city that has its own police force and highly regarded public-service departments.

A visit to Renton's historic district or The Landing, its shopping and dining quarter, should underscore its transformation into a dynamic, attractive city.