As the Burien City Council nears its decision on a potential annexation area in North Highline, community residents for annexation are starting to make their voices heard amongst those opposed to it.

At an Aug. 22 public hearing, the Burien Planning Commission spent the evening listening to comments on this divisive issue from residents of Burien and North Highline.

In contrast to previous meetings, where comments from citizens favoring pro-annexation have often been booed while those favoring no annexation received applause, this audience was equally divided.

The planning commission was expected to continue its review of the city council's preferred annexation area on Aug. 29, then make a recommendation to the lawmakers.

City council members voted 5-2 to adopt the preferred annexation alternative-one area west of Glendale Way South, north of South 128th Street, east of Ambaum Boulevard and south of South 118th and South 112th Streets; another north of South 118th Street, west of 16th Avenue Southwest and south of Southwest 107th Way.

Annexation foes who spoke last week took advantage of another chance to persuade planning commissioners in their decision.

"We can't serve the people of North Highline as they deserve," said Burien resident Horace Parker, an annexation opponent. "We as citizens will be stuck with the costs."

"It's a fact that Seattle has said they want to annex all of North Highline. It's a fact that Burien can't afford North Highline," said Boulevard Park resident Butch Henderson.

Others objected to the council's current preferred alternative.

The planning commission should reject the current preferred alternative, said Cherisse Luxa, a Burien resident.

Adopting a potential annexation area for all of North Highline would enable Burien to "find out things we don't know about," she said.

And, said Burien resident Jerry Robison, "There is no business opportunity in the area that has been selected in the councils preferred alternative. Why are people against annexation so afraid to do a PAA?"

Doing a full potential annexation area is to do further study, Robison said. "What makes sense for Burien is full annexation."

However, the idea of Burien declaring all of North Highline a potential annexation area for study purposes didn't sit well with some unincorporated-area residents.

"If Burien studies us, then Seattle won't study us," said Boulevard Park resident Claire Henson. "Doing a study would give Burien more time to cover their own financial costs."

"I object to being split off from my community," said North Highline resident James Mueller. "The interests of my community are better served by Seattle."

Speaking on behalf of ratepayers in Water District 20, Commissioner Kathy Keene encouraged a full potential annexation of North Highline.

"North Highline is a place to grow into and provides a much better tax base," said Keene.

Once again, opponents questioned the numbers being used by Burien officials.

"We still strongly believe that the police numbers are inflated," said Parker.

Current estimates show that Burien would have to pay an additional $2.2 million just for police services if there was no annexation or a partial annexation.

Ron Seale, a spokesman for the Burien Residents Against Annexation Political Action Committee, asked why Burien has not looked into starting its own police force.

"Imagine the possibilities if staff and council were to work as hard to protect our city as-is, and to explore cost-saving alternatives as they do to justify annexation schemes."