In just two months Fairwood will know its fate – again.

Between now and then, residents in this unincorporated island of nice homes and a somewhat struggling commercial area should think carefully about a community-changing vote on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.

Then, voters will decide whether to annex to the City of Renton. Twice, they have rejected forming their own city. That option has been fully explored and the wind seems to have gone out of the cityhood sail.

The better option has always been to anchor the 27,000 residents of Fairwood to Renton, that while struggling financially like every other city offers the municipal maturity that will keep Fairwood’s forward momentum moving.

Renton officials have been carefully crafting information about what services the city would provide and the cost of those services. The city steers clear of advocating either way on the issue.

Two important meetings are coming up this month that will help inform Fairwood residents.

The first is 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, when the city will hold an informational open house at the Fairwood Community Church, 13120 S.E. 192nd St. The open house may not have the drama that filled seats for incorporation meetings but this is information that’s worth learning. Fairwood residents will put into practice next year what they learned about city services at the meeting.

The second meeting may sound a bit wonkish, but it’s important nonetheless. Renton already has in mind land uses for Fairwood, but at 6 p.m. Sept. 29 in the City Council’s chambers in City Hall, the city will hold the second of two meetings on pre-zoning the Fairwood area. If you want some say in how the city implements its vision for Fairwood, this is one place where you do it.

Generally speaking, Renton wants an outlying area such as Fairwood to be less dense than what King County envisioned, in keeping with concentrating growth in its urban core downtown.

Fairwood-area residents have received a brochure that carefully outlines public services,the proposed pre-zoning and an explanation of what annexation means.

And, next, Skyway

Renton is going to be a busy place during the next few years, for sure because of the likely Fairwood annexation and maybe the annexation of West Hill.

Today, reporter Celeste Gracey is beginning a series of articles that will take a close look at Skyway. She’ll separate fact from fiction, which is difficult when perceptions, often wrong, take on a life of their own.

I am sure Skyway residents will read the series with interest, finding areas of disagreement, comfort and hopefully a better understanding of their often-misunderstood community. But I would encourage Renton residents to do the same, with more than passing interest. Sure, Skyway is a neighbor right now. But that could change in a couple years if Skyway votes to annex to Renton – and the City Council doesn’t decide reject the annexation vote.

The vote surely will come with plenty of political heat. It’s clear, at least today, that Skyway can’t pay for the services it would receive from Renton. That could lead to the degradation of services elsewhere, if Skyway annexes.

The Renton Reporter can help cool that heat with information and understanding. I would hate to see what is perhaps Skyway’s best chance of obtaining deserved city services lost because stereotypes of the community clouded political decisions.

Skyway is working hard to overcome those stereotypes. Residents are taking back their streets. There is untapped economic opportunity there if only the crime problem and perceived crime problem is resolved or debunked.

Give Skyway the chance it deserves.