It’s hard to see Port Orchard’s proposed annexation of McCormick Woods as anything but a win for both the residents of that community and for Port Orchard.
Thus, it was gratifying last week to see the city step to the plate with a substantive plan that both reinforced Port Orchard’s support and laid out a blueprint for how the annexation should proceed.
“We’re delighted to see that you are working on this,” said McCormick Woods resident Dick Davis, who is on the annexation committee. “We can go back to the residents and tell them that progress is being made.”
As part of unincorporated Kitsap County up to this point, McCormick Woods has been dependent on the county for its basic services. From the county’s standpoint, if Silverdale should one day vote to incorporate — as has been rumored for years — the county would lose its tax revenues and have less money with which to support McCormick Woods.
Meanwhile, from Port Orchard’s perspective, adding McCormick Woods not only brings its property taxes into the city’s coffers but the instant increase in land area and population can only give Port Orchard more clout in its dealings with the county.
Most importantly, the move benefits the residents of McCormick Woods by probably providing more consistent police service than they had been getting from the county, and also by making official what had been taken for granted since the development’s creation — that the development is part of Port Orchard.
The sense of community that comes from knowing you’re part of a well-defined city rather than simply out in No Man’s Land is no small consideration. Not only could McCormick Woods residents share a sense of pride and have a stake in the city’s accomplishments (and vice versa), but they would also have a seat at the table in making those things happen.
McCormick Woods be represented in the City Council and its concerns would have greater weight than is the case when your nearest governmental representation is the county commissioners.
Like we said —a win-win situation and long overdue.
