Proposed Sidney/Sedgwick annexation moves forward

Bill Palmer of William Palmer Consultants spoke to the Port Orchard City Council Monday on behalf of several property owners ready to proceed with a dream of annexation almost a decade in the making.

Richard Brown, Lester and Betty Krueger, Ron Rice, and Ronald and Kristin Watters issued the city council a proposal that would allow the petition to be circulated to neighbors of the property. It is the next step in the annexation process.

The proposed seven parcels are located southeast of the intersection of Sidney Road SW and SW Sedgwick Road and amount to 33.39 acres valued at $615,520.

In order for the property to be annexed, it must directly border the Port Orchard city limits and be within Port Orchard’s Urban Growth Area (UGA). According to staff reports, the property was added to the UGA on Oct. 25 and was rezoned for use as commercial property.

However, conflict arose when several councilmembers failed to understand a map provided by Palmer showing how the properties were adjacent to the city limits.

After some discussion, Councilman Todd Cramer questioned why a decision was being “rushed through.”

“If you want more shopping in Port Orchard, you need to get this annexation done now,” Brown said.

According to Brown, Port Orchard has already missed out on several opportunities for commercial development on the property due to its slow procedural process.

The council eventually voted unanimously to accept the Notice of Intent to Petition for Annexation, which is not the same as approving the actual annexation.

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