South a good direction to grow (6/27/05)

Portland's move last week to initiate the annexation process for industrial property on the west side of the city made sense.

But it also served as a reminder of a long-deferred annexation question on the city's south side.

The western annexation proposal — involving the Tyson Mexican Original property among others — primarily focuses on land developed for industry. And the property owners, including Tyson, have been good corporate citizens on the matter, recognizing that while property taxes will go up becoming a part of the city itself is good business.

Unannexed property south of Portland's city limits pose a much tougher question.

It's been more than 15 years since a city administration tried to annex residential properties near what was then the Portland Country Club.

Homes along Manuel Drive and Nan Del Lane were targeted then, but a 21st century approach would also be likely to include all of Golf Brook Estates.

Why is this different from the Tyson area annexation? Primarily because of the number of property owners involved and because those property owners are voters.

Tyson Mexican Original, after all, can't register to vote; homeowners near what is now the Portland Golf Club and in Golf Brook Estates not only can register but do vote.

Why should that matter? According to local political legend, a popular mayor lost his job in a Portland election after annexing a residential neighborhood that didn't want to be annexed.

The margin of his defeat was roughly comparable to the number of registered voters in the area annexed, or so the legend goes.

Still, political considerations aside, the matter needs to be addressed.

For our part, we thought annexation of the adjacent residential neighborhoods south of the city's current limits made sense years ago.

What was lacking then was an honest acknowledgment on the part of those property owners that, despite the fact that their homes were outside the corporate city limits of Portland, they were actually a part of Portland.

We hope that is lacking no longer.

Cities and towns grow by a number of ways, but annexation is a key tool to growth.

It's a legal reflection of reality when an adjacent industrial site, such as Tyson Mexican Original, becomes a formal part of the city and joins the tax rolls.

And it's an equally legal reflection of reality when suburban homes are brought into the city.

So while we're pleased to see the city moving on westward annexation, we'd also urge a strong look at moving south as well.

And, on top of that, we'd suggest to our friends just beyond the southern edge of the city limits that it's high time they joined us as a formal, legitimate part of Portland. We'll all be better for it. — J.R.[[In-content Ad]]