The Washington state Boundary Review Board for King County will take public testimony in late May on a bid to form a new City of Fairwood.

The board will use the testimony to decide whether to approve or reject the proposal by the Fairwood Municipal Initiative to incorporate Fairwood, which has about 26,000 residents.

The hearings are 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. May 26, 27 and 28 at the Fairwood Community United Methodist Church, 15255 S.E. Fairwood Blvd.

On Thursday, the Boundary Review Board accepted the Fairwood financial feasibility study by the consulting team of Henderson, Young and Co. of Redmond.

The first night, the consultants will give a 40-minute presentation to the board on the final report, which is available to read below. Then, representatives of the Fairwood Municipal Initiative will have 20 minutes to make a presentation, followed by testimony from government entities.

The next two nights are set aside for public testimony. However, the public is encouraged to come to the May 26 meeting.

“We want them to hear what they are commenting about,” said Lenora Blauman, the board’s executive secretary.

Blauman said the board will take testimony on any issue related to incorporation. But she encourages the public to comment on the factors and objectives outlined in state law that the board will consider in making its decision. Those laws are RCW 36.93.170 and 36.93.180.

Someone representing a community group will have 10 minutes to speak and an individual can speak for three minutes.

It is expected that after the public testimony is completed, likely on May 28, the boundary review board will make a preliminary decision that night on incorporation. A final decision will be made at its meeting June 18, at which no public testimony will be taken.

The Fairwood Municipal Initiative, working with the King County Council, would set the date for an incorporation election.

FINAL FAIRWOOD INCORPORATION REPORT