Translate
County Council places Panther Lake annexation vote on November ballot
Summary
Residents to decide whether to become part of city of Kent
Story
Consistent with County policy calling for the annexation of urban unincorporated areas, the Metropolitan King County Council today placed a measure on the November general election ballot giving residents of the unincorporated community of Panther Lake the choice of annexation into the city of Kent.“This ordinance represents a step forward in King County’s Annexation Initiative—our countywide effort to fulfill the vision of the Growth Management Act, and to make sure residents receive the best possible urban services in the most affordable and most appropriate way,” said Councilmember Julia Patterson, who represents the area. “Because of the hard work put forth by the residents of Panther Lake, the city of Kent and King County, voters will finally have the opportunity to weigh in on the future of their community.”
The state Growth Management Act calls for cities to be the provider of local government services to urban areas, with counties focusing on services to the entire region as well as local services to the rural unincorporated areas.
On June 16, the Kent City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the annexation of the Panther Lake community into the city. The Boundary Review Board for King County approved the city’s annexation proposal in November 2008.
The Panther Lake Annexation Area is approximately five square miles and is home to approximately 24,000 residents. The 10,816 registered voters in the annexation area will be eligible to vote on whether they want to join Kent.
Residents unsure whether their homes lie in the potential annexation area can use the map and search tool on the King County Annexation Initiative Web site. The Web site provides additional information on the annexation process, links to city service and tax information, and details on what services would change or remain the same should annexation occur.
Read the legislation