In Our View: Annexation Worth A Look

It is worth a look — a long, thoughtful, discerning look.

Vancouver officials are ready to consider an expansion of the city through the annexation of some areas that currently are unincorporated. And while the benefits and the drawbacks should be evaluated and measured — particularly for a city struggling to maintain the roads it currently has — in the end what will matter is the impact upon residents in both the potentially annexed areas and within the existing city boundaries. Extending the city, after all, also would impact those who already live there as services are adjusted to accommodate a suddenly expanded population.

In 2007, in the throes of the Great Recession, city officials mothballed long-term plans for annexation. But now, as Community and Economic Development Director Chad Eiken said, “We’re climbing out of the recession, and the city’s in a much stronger financial position. I think it’s our job to look at what’s next. We’ve got these plans that say the city should be continuing to grow and taking in urbanized areas.”

Therein lies the impetus behind annexation. It is incongruous to have urbanized areas resting outside the city boundaries when there is no discernible difference between those neighborhoods and the city itself. As the National League of Cities writes: “Not only are these fringes socially and economically linked to the city, but oftentimes the residents and industrial and commercial businesses in the fringe areas utilize the city’s resources and services.”

That certainly is true in the case of one area targeted for possible annexation: The Walnut Grove-Barberton neighborhoods near the junction of Interstate 205 and Padden Parkway, an area that encompasses about 2 square miles and 4,650 residents. According to city officials, all but six properties in the area receive water service from the city, and fire service is provided by the city through an interlocal agreement. The city of Vancouver provides sewer service to about one-quarter of the area, with the rest being served by the Clark Regional Wastewater District.

Those are the issues that must be evaluated in considering annexation. Vancouver City Manager Eric Holmes said: “It’s not a slam-dunk; that’s not how we operate. The council truly understands that annexation can have impacts, positive and perceived negative, on areas that are unincorporated, and we don’t take that lightly.”

Lessons can be provided by Cascade Park, an area of east Vancouver that was added in 1997 as part of the largest annexation in state history. The results, according to Cascade Park residents, have been mixed, and Eiken said: “We don’t want people to have unrealistic expectations of what people see the day after it’s annexed. The goal would be to improve it over time, but it’s a big undertaking.”

Over time, it is sensible to expect the city to incorporate all the land within its Urban Growth Area, but caution is warranted and, most important, the concerns of residents who would be impacted must be considered and addressed. City officials say that the Walnut Grove-Barberton area would provide about $2.9 million annually to city coffers, while extending services would cost about $1.8 million. That, however, is a preliminary analysis and will require additional vetting.

In other words, the idea of annexing urbanized areas outside the city limits needs a closer examination. But it’s worth a look.