Draft 2 Fairwood Incorporation Study Released Frequently Asked Questions Issued
Second Community Meeting Set for March 19

The King County Boundary Review Board's consultants for the Fairwood Feasibility Study released Draft 2 of the study. Along with the Draft 2 Study, a separate document of Frequently Asked Questions and responses orginating from the first Public Meeting on February 9 was also released.

On first review, the financial numbers for the Second Draft Study are even more favorable than the first, with revenues exceeding expenses by greater margins than previously estimated.

Errata to be Released
While we reviewed this draft, we found areas where we had questions and asked for further elaboration from the contracted study consultants, Henderson and Young. They confirmed that they needed to make a few corrections and will be releasing an errata to the Draft 2 Document in the next few days.

UPDATE: Download the Errata to the right.

Continued Community Discussion Encouraged
We do want to encourage the dialogue all have read in our previous posts, and we encourage you to continue your civil comments - and hope more of you will post.

Please stay tuned; we look forward to hearing from you.

Responses to
"Fairwood Incorporation Study - Draft 2"

July 12 - 10:48 am
Jake said: I live just outside of the Fairwood area in Cascade, and would not be affected. However, I must say that when we got annexed into Renton, our services were good for the most part for about the first month. After that, we could not get a police officer to save our life. Their response times were horrible, and we can't get road services from public works for a long period of time. We even started getting parking tickets for parking in front of our own homes! It was a bad move for Cascade to join Renton, and now it's starting to show. Higher taxes, less service and even getting penalized for being home. I do not support Renton by shopping in the city. I am a firefighter for another city and have seen a lot of my friends go from working ina small department that they enjoy, to working for a large department where they are just a number. BAD IDEA RENTON. Go Fairwood!

April 8 - 9:19 pm
Jeff said: Enough talk, let's vote. Fairwood incorporation was rejected once already due to the majority of voters not wanting higher taxes for fewer services. Nothing has changed.

A city of Fairwood was a terrible idea a couple years ago; it is worse idea now in this recession and fewer Fairwood businesses (i.e. QFC).

I realize there are people who would benefit from the added bureaucracy and few city jobs of a City of Fairwood. However, from a homeowner who just wants the best for his family, I'm voting NO to incorporation.

April 6 - 12:34pm
Corrine said: I admit I am vehemently against incorporation into Renton. We only recently moved to Fairwood, which we selected for the school associations with Kent, its location and the fact that there isn't a huge shopping district. If I wanted to live in Renton, I would have saved money and purchased in Renton. I concur that things could be spruced up some and improved eateries would be great. But I believe if we incorporate into Renton things will only get worse, not better. The taxes will be increased with no increase in services and likely we'll hear the Renton police helicopter hovering overhead far more often. We need to remember that perception rules and if we are part of Renton will then the area will be associated with poor schools, drugs, and the place you can go to get shot at the mall. This would decrease the value of our homes and people would not want to relocate to the area.

April 1 - 2:33 pm
9 year homeowner said: Well said Sam. I've made my decision and I'm jumping off the fence-SUPPORT FAIRWOOD! I am a 9 year Fairwood area homeowner and agree we have to take control of our own future. City of Renton is simply King County under new management. We pay our tax dollars and get little for our community. Let's make ourselves accountable for how our neighborhood is rather than complain that we want accountablity from someone who won't give it to us. Let's put our money where we want it, where it is needed, not in a pool with hopes it will make its way back home. Go Fairwood! Come on people let's make Fairwood a great City and once again a great place to live.

March 24 - 9:03 pm
Sam Shirley said: 11 year Fairwood Homeowner, you will soon be in either the City of Fairwood or Renton. If the incorporation fails Renton will annex the shopping districts the next day. This would stop any future incorporation effort and allow Renton to take the rest of Fairwood in either one vote or block by block in coordinated annexations. This is at least the third study that shows Fairwood has the money it needs to operate as its own city. The City of Renton says they expect a significant cash surplus if they annex us. Money is not the issue. The economy will affect a large city like Renton more, as they have become reliant on big ticket sales such as cars from their dealerships. Smaller cities like Fairwood or Newcastle etc... get the vast majority of their revenue from taxes on essentials. We will be impacted less as the City of Fairwood. Here's what we get if we become our own city. First, we control our own money. Millions of surplus dollars we pay in taxes WILL be spent here in our own community. I think you would be mistaken to assume that Renton would spend our money here while they have so many projects going on in their downtown core. Second, we would get to control our own zoning. In 11 years you have seen the decline in our neighborhood. Our problem is that we do not control the type of growth that occurs here. The City of Fairwood would not allow the Renton Housing Authority to construct a 500 unit section 8 apartment complex on the land they now own off of 140th SE. I believe Renton would. How would this affect your home value? How would this affect the quality of the education our children receive after 500 families from Rentons at risk neighborhoods move here? The State's goal for affordable housing is 9.5% of a community. We are already well above that figure. To remain healthy our community needs carefully control our future growth, we wont get that control with Renton. LOCAL CONTROL! Right now we control one seat on the King County Council. As a result, issues such as the Critical Areas Ordinance pass with ease, even though they are universally opposed by everyone affected. If we annex to Renton we will probably control one seat on the Renton City Council. We Will be handing them our millions and hoping that they do what is in our best interest. Please help make Fairwood great again! we can do it, but not by hoping someone else will do it for us. Like the old saying goes, if you want something done right, do it yourself! Please support the City of Fairwood!

March 22 - 3:48 pm
Leah said: I was initially leaning against this, but I attended the second incorporation study review and became undecided. Then I read comments from Mayor Law's Fairwood Incorporation Analysis and I'm still undecided due to the fact that information doesn't match up or is missing. My current impression is this that the economy is bad so we'll get taken advantage of and when the economy gets better we'll get screwed over.

My concerns/questions:
Do we really need to annex to Renton now? Is Fairwood in any severe economic need that different from the rest of the county? If not what do we gain by annexation. What are we sacrificing by paying less taxes (if they are actually less.)

How much did Maple Valley spend on starting up, where did the funds came from and what's the impact on us over the long term? Seem like Maple Valley are doing fine, how much did they need to raise taxes to do this? What is Maple Valley going without, to keep their residents happy today?

If we annex to Renton will we realistically have any say in future Fairwood changes?

If we annex to Renton what's the deal with Section 8 housing and development of new jails?

If we incorporate will the Fairwood shops stay?

If we incorporate are we really not responsible parks and recreation budget. Study says no, Mayor Law says yes?

March 20 - 4:33 pm
Seth in Fairwood said: The only way to make Fairwood viable is to have businesses in the city limits to provide tax revenue. Without this, we will not be able to support the city. It would benefit us more to be part of an existing city such as Renton. Otherwise we will not be able to support our basic services. As the property values decrease, the tax revenue will as well.

March 19 - 10:02 pm
19 year Fairwood Homeowner said: In a tough economy, it's even more important than ever that we get our money's worth from our tax dollars and protect the investment we have in our neighborhoods with sound planning and good services. The local control offered by having our own city is our best bet, and the feasibility report details how we can get more for our money than we now get.

March 19 - 8:01 pm
Mark in Fairwood said: I like the idea of being "Fairwood" if we had something viable. But we don't right now. A bunch of Terriyaki places, Pho', Bubble Tea, all usually the sign of low end, cheap lease tennants. We have nothing even close to happening in the QFC spot and a couple grocery stores. Where you don't even pay state sales tax on groceries in Washington, so thats even less revenue. We have ACE as the only thing other than auto parts that actually supply "tax revenue". The rest is land and property taxes, etc. That's simply not enough. I'd prefer it be Maple Valley somewhere other than Renton, but unfortunately, it's Renton as of now. We simply don't have a draw or reason for people to come spend $$$ in Fairwood. No unique store bringing people in, nothing. We'd be self funding our own city and be completely ass backwards broke before we know it. We need to be serious, Renton isnt everyones favorite, but its a city..With the Landing and all that unleased space, our area isn't going to be too attractive for awhile if we try this go it alone mentality. I think we have to be realistic and accept the fact that Renton is at the bottom of both hills. IT's our best option.

March 17 - 10:19 am
10 year Fairwood Homeowner said: Clearly there is interest in Incorporation. Where was Renton after the last vote? I think they were BEHIND THE CURVE. Fairwood would be viable. Plenty of revenue and improved services! We need local control. Especially in this economy. I am not letting a margin of less than 200 votes out of 25000 residents decide this issue. Think about it! I don't want to be part of a sprawling, underserved Renton that is desperate for our revenue. I'm just sayin....

March 12 - 11:48 am
11 year Fairwood Homeowner said: This was already voted down the first time. There is going to be less support this time given the economy. We do not need another level of government in a time like this. Let's spend our time on something more productive.

Draft 2 Fairwood Incorporation Study Released Frequently Asked Questions Issued Second Community Meeting Set for March 19