A pair of rulings by the Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board last week rejected complaints filed by Seattle and Burien, each against the other, over potential annexation of the North Highline unincorporated area.

"This decision leaves us in limbo," said Scott Greenberg, Burien community development director.

After months of financial studies and community meetings, the Burien City Council last November adopted an ordinance designating North Highline as a "proposed annexation area."

The Burien council took that action after it, the city of Seattle and King County failed to reach an agreement for annexation of the unincorporated area.

In December, Seattle responded by also designating North Highline as a proposed annexation area.

Each city challenged the action of the other, and their dueling annexation designations were submitted for resolution to the Growth Management Hearings Board.

King County and Tukwila intervened on behalf of Seattle in both cases.

But joint rulings issued by the Growth Management Hearings Board last week said each city had complied with state law in designating North Highline as a potential area for annexation and dismissed both complaints.

The growth manaement panel "has turned the clock back to the end of December," said Burien's Greenberg. "Seattle has its planned annexation area, we have ours."