COURTESY IMAGE
The area within the dotted line is a Kent neighborhood known as The Bridges, completely surrounded by Auburn.

COURTESY IMAGE The area within the dotted line is a Kent neighborhood known as The Bridges, completely surrounded by Auburn.

Bridges neighborhood annexation moves closer to finish line

The City of Kent annexed this area in 1987 before Auburn’s annexation of Lea Hill in 2008.

Auburn City Council approved an interlocal agreement on Oct. 16 with the city of Kent to address the mechanics of the annexation of the Bridges community from Kent into Auburn.

Among those details, the transfer of official records.

For instance, if someone owns a piece of property in one community and has applied for a building permit to add a deck, the interlocal agreement would address how to proceed if the area is in the middle of a transition from one city to another. It also addresses rights of way and utility properties, among other things.

Staff have been at work preparing for zoning and land use designation to be in place should annexation occur. Auburn’s Planning Commission will play its part.

At the moment, the Bridges neighborhood is an island of the city of Kent surrounded on all sides by the city of Auburn, but moving it into Auburn has the approval of both cities and the communities involved.

At 7 p.m. Sept. 18, the Auburn City Council authorized city staff to file a notice of annexation with the Boundary Review Board for King County.

“There are a lot of moving parts,” Community Development Director Jeff Tate told the council in September.

That resolution, “an initiating action,” as Tate called it, would set a complex process into motion, requiring not only annexation of the Bridges neighborhood into Auburn, but its de-annexation from Kent.

The City of Kent annexed this area in 1987 before Auburn’s annexation of Lea Hill in 2008. Prior to Auburn’s annexation, the Bridges was just a portion of Kent that was not contiguous to its city boundaries. Auburn’s annexation of Lea Hill 21 years later was an action that created this island of Kent surrounded by Auburn.

Seeing to it that all of the gears mesh on the annexation has been the goal of many people in recent years — and the subject of numerous discussions between the cities.

In August 2022, Kent and Auburn staff attended the Bridges National Night Out event to help answer questions and to encourage residents to take part in a survey tooled to help both cities understand how residents of the community felt about annexation. With 144 individual surveys completed, the results indicated that about 70% of the residents either supported the annexation into Auburn or were indifferent.

In November 2022, the Bridges Homeowners’ Association voted unanimously in favor of the annexation.

The first crucial step was the submission of an application to the Boundary Review Board of King County, as state law requires. This case is unusual in that, typically, annexation brings unincorporated land into a city. Here, both cities must submit applications to the board — Kent for de-annexation, and Auburn for annexation.

That BRB application gives agencies a chance to participate and/or voice concern over annexations. For example, this particular annexation will result in a taxing district and service shift from the Puget Sound Fire Authority to the Valley Regional Fire Authority. The PSFA will lose some revenue and VRFA will gain some revenue to meet the added demand. Staff from both cities have engaged the two fire authorities, and both agencies have expressed support related to the annexation, Tate said.

The BRB process ensures that the King County Assessor is aware of the change and can adjust tax rates in the affected area. Likewise, it ensures that King County Elections is equipped to modify voting districts to reflect the change. For example, in 2024, residents of the Bridges should be voting for City of Auburn officials and initiatives instead of City of Kent officials and initiatives.

City of Auburn staff have worked on the development of comprehensive plan and zoning amendments in preparation for annexation so that there are land use controls in place should annexation occur. Comprehensive plan and zoning amendments are included in the 2023 Auburn Comprehensive Plan’s annual docket of amendments that will be under consideration by the Planning Commission in the coming weeks.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

t
Kent Police Detective Ford retires after 29 years with department

Helped solve 44-year-old cold case murder in 2024

Courtesy Photo, King County
Prolific tagger faces charges for damage to Kent water tower

Man one of dozens who reportedly tagged properties across King County, including West Hill tower

t
Federal Way man charged in Kent I-5 crash that killed passenger

Documents state that evidence reportedly showed he was the driver, but he blamed the passenger.

The Kent Police Department went all out with their “Moana” themed display - even Maui showed up. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
The Hogwarts Express pulls into Battle of the Badges | Photos

The 2024 Battle of the Badges took over the Renton Technical College on Dec. 14.

Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent Police
City of Kent crime numbers drop in 2024 compared to 2023

Vehicle thefts, commercial burglaries and robberies see big decreases

Courtesy Photo, Kent School District
Kent School District says it ‘will do better next time’ with school closures

Late notifications issued about closures after Dec. 18 windstorm

t
Kent Police arrest pair for downtown robbery of pedestrian

Reportedly used pepper spray to attack Kent man, 56, as he walked on sidewalk Dec. 16

Meeker Middle School, one of six schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18 in the Kent School District due to power outages from a windstorm. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Windstorm causes closure of six Kent schools due to power outages

Four elementary, two middle schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18; couple of city roads closed

Volunteers wrap gifts during the 2023 Toys for Joy program. COURTESY PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire
Puget Sound Fire puts out plea for more Toys for Joy donations

Toys needed for children ages 9 to 12; more bikes, scooters requested; deadline is Dec. 20

t
Kent man, 19, faces multiple charges after pursuit near Wenatchee

Driver reportedly fails to stop for state trooper, crashes stolen vehicle along State Route 97

Kent School District Board Director Awale Farah, left, and Superintendent Israel Vela at a high school graduation last summer. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Awale Farah resigns immediately from Kent School Board

Says because of ‘family commitments’ he cannot fulfill rest of his term that expires in November 2025

t
Kent’s Lower Russell Levee project receives John Spellman Award

City, King County Flood District and other partners recognized for historic preservation